When I woke the next morning my head felt fuzzy and my eyes were sore. I sat up with a sigh, looking down at the red book next to me and decided on something. Getting up I changed and slipped it into my tunic. Then went in search for breakfast. I found it quickly after asking an elf politely for directions and found the kitchen. I was given a plate of food fresh and hot from the fires and thanked the cook gratefully. The cook smiled slightly and then slipped me a honey bun fresh from the oven. I smiled brightly, loving the honey buns and ate it first before taking my plate to a table and eating my food eagerly. After I was done I returned the plate with a thanks and went to find Lord Elrond.
It took me a while, getting lost twice and getting distracted by something new to look at. I even saw the Dwarves but over heard them wanting to swim and escaped, not wanting to see where they planned on doing this, but saw them heading for the fountain. By this time is was nearly noon, and I finally found Lord Elrond on the balcony from yesterday. I coughed to get his attention and he looked at me concerned, "Ariana. Good Morning, how are you feeling?"
I smiled ruefully at him, "Been better but not too bad. I am glad you told me the truth. Thank you."
His gaze softened and I held out the book to him, "But I have a favor. I don't know how this journey will go but I do not want this damaged. Will you keep it safe for me?"
He smiled softly and took it with a careful hand, "I would be glad to keep it safe for you. You need only to ask for it and it will be returned to you." I thanked him, giving a warm smile and he turned to go put it back in his study.
I suddenly had an idea and quickly said, "Ah, Lord Elrond?" He turned to me and I asked sheepishly, "Is there a place that I can go to swim that's tucked away?" He hummed as he thought about it and said, "Gather what you need and I will have Tári take you to a pool that is out of the way and not many know of it. She will keep watch while you swim."
I must have showed my displeasure of this because he smiled softly, "She is only to make sure nothing happens. You will get along I think."
I saw no getting out of this in his eyes and so I nodded and gave in. He motioned toward the building, "Gather your things and meet her here."
I hurried to do so and paused as I watched him leave and saw the direction he was going. I hid a smile, knowing the Dwarves had found the fountain by now. Thankfully I was going the other direction to get my things.
Wearing a light tunic and trousers that were so worn from my journey I cut them off at the knees. Taking a small bundle in my cloak of bread, cheese, my daggers and a towel I hurried out to meet my guard. Tári was waiting and she was dressed in light armor, with bow and arrows along with a sword and like the rest of the elves was fair and beautiful but I saw a toughness underneath that and it gave me comfort. Her hair was blond in a tight french braid and I saw no hate as she nodded her head to me, "You must be Ariana. It's nice to meet you."
I bowed back, "Pleased to meet you Tári. At your service." She motioned me to follow and she lead me towards the river and partly into the woods were a section of the river cut off and created a small waterfall over a deep pool that was perfect for swimming. Grinning happily I thanked Tári and paused as I set my stuff down, "I thank you for keeping an eye out. It does put me at ease."
She smiled slightly and said, "It is no trouble. Enjoy yourself." Then we heard a crash and in an instant she had an arrow knocked and aimed. I sensed what was coming and quickly put out a hand, "Wait please. It's just some animals."
And we watched as a huge brown bear and two slightly smaller bears came out of the woods and I quickly stepped in front of her arrow before she could shoot, "They won't hurt us."
The bears startled at the sound of my voice, looking at us and I smiled at them, "Easy friends."
Moving forward I said politely, "Care to join me for a swim? I'm Ariana."
The bigger bear seemed to be the eldest and he shuffled forward and sniffed my face and I heard his name whisper to me. Crusher. I scratched his chin and said, "Pleased to meet you Crusher." He looked at the two younger bears who seemed to be twins and their names were Tuff and Buff. Buff was the plumper of the two. I turned and saw the bewildered look on Tári's face but smiled reassuringly, "It's alright. They just came to swim too."
She slowly returned her arrow and gave a nod before she melted into the trees. I could still sense her near but at least she hadn't shot at the bears, that would have been bad. Crusher went over to a log and lied down next to it and I set my stuff next to him as he mentioned that he was just going to watch his younger brothers be silly and offered to keep an eye on my things.
Thanking him I set my things down and with a whoop, cheerfully followed Tuff and Buff up a trail to the top of the falls and all three of us leaped off into the water, surfacing with laughter. And then racing to do it again.
0o0
Fili and Kili had come out of the fountain first and had changed into dry clothes before going out to find their Burglar. They hadn't seen her for a few days, only Ori seeing her the day before, and was beginning to worry. Kili asked his older brother softly, "You don't think she'd abandon the company do you?"
Fili didn't really know how to answer but to put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He was worried too but tried not to show it. Then he heard something that sounded like Ariana. He turned the corner and saw her leaving with an Elf warrior. Kili and Fili exchanged looks and then followed quietly behind. They grew even more curious as they walked down the river a bit and then into some woods. There they lost them for a moment until they hear a shout. Picking up the pace Fili and Kili hurried towards the noise and then at hearing more shouts. They exchanged terrified looks, thinking she was being attacked, burst through the underbrush, shouting and ready for battle.
They stared at Ariana who was sitting on top of a bear that was swimming towards shore. She looked startled as she saw them and then they felt a warm breath at the back of their necks. Spinning Fili shoved Kili behind him as they faced a massive brown bear.
0o0
Laughing as I tread water I yelped and shouted in surprise when Tuff surfaced under me and I sat on his back. I nearly had a heart attack when I heard battle cries and stared as Fili and Kili burst from the bushes, ready to fight with no weapons but their fists. But they stopped dead when they saw me, unharmed and on top of a bear. This wasn't weird enough, but then Crusher moved behind them, wanting to know where these small men came from and what they wanted.
The young Dwarves spun and I saw Fili shove Kili behind him protectively and was getting ready for a fight. Crusher sensed this and growled. Leaping off Tuff I raced for them calling, "Wait! It's alright!"
Getting in between the Dwarves and the bear, I calmed Crusher, "These are my friends. Be nice."
Crusher grunted, relaxing and I smiled reassuringly at Fili and Kili, "Easy, these bears won't hurt you."
Kili looked around his brother curiously, but it took a minute for Fili to decide to trust me and relaxed. I introduced the bears and Dwarves and Tári appeared out of the woods and I had to introduce everyone and explain what Tári was doing there. She went back into the woods as I asked Fili and Kili as Crusher went back to his nap, "What are you doing here?"
Kili's jaw snapped shut and he exclaimed, "You talk to bears! I mean, you can understand them?"
Amused I nodded, "I already told all of you I can talk to animals." and Fili said in disbelief, "Not possible." Which made me roll my eyes, "All evidence to the contrary. Now why are you here?"
Fili looked at Crusher in awe, mostly I think at his size and that he hadn't ate them, "We saw you leave, so we followed you." Kili became worried then and blurted, "Your not leaving the Company are you?"
Startled I looked at him and said, "No, why would you think that?"
Fili looked down and Kili shuffled on his feet, staring at a tree. Finally Kili said quietly, "Because we, the Company I mean, haven't been very nice to you."
I nearly snorted, "So you've noticed." but held back. I liked Fili and Kili, and I wanted us to be friends and I was fed up with sad things for a while. So I smiled softly and said, "Well I can't expect any of you to like me since you don't know me." They finally looked at me and I said cheerfully, "Now. We're wasting the day. What say you join Tuff, Buff and I for a little swim? Hmm?"
They looked at me, then Kili looked at Fili with pleading puppy dog eyes and Fili grinned, "Sure." But then they looked down at themselves and I bit back a giggle, "Just put your shoes and tunics over by my things, Crusher won't harm you," seeing Kili's nervous look, "and just swim in your trousers."
I watched in great amusement as Fili and Kili did as I asked, keeping one eye on Crusher, who seemed amused by this as well. Tuff called for us to hurry up and as soon as Kili and Fili were done I gave a whoop and raced for the top of the water fall, Fili and Kili right behind me.
I let them pass, getting an idea and like I thought they paused at the edge of the falls, not sure if they wanted to jump in. I settled this by tackling them with a yell and laughed as we fell down and into the pool. Surfacing I grinned at them as they glared at me, but then Fili smirked and laughed, which made Kili laugh. Then we shouted as Tuff and Buff jumped in and caused a wave to thrust us to the shore. Laughing cheerfully we got out and raced to jump off again. As we played like this, we jumped in one more time before we got another visitor.
