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Disclaimer: I only own Adelaide
The Journey to Rivendell
"Whether because of Strider's skill or for some other reason, they saw no other sign and beard no sound of any other living things all that day…The next day they began to steer a steady course eastwards' and still all was quiet and peaceful".( AN: Parts of this chapter were used in a paper. Like the previous quote)
"We are being followed" Strider stated.
"I have not heard anything" Frodo replied. "It has been silent as the grave, save for the animals."
"Who is following us?" Sam questioned.
"Or what?" Mary asked.
"I have an idea, but I am not sure." Strider answered.
"Well who, or what, do you think it is?" Pippen probed. But Strider said nothing.
The four hobbits and the ranger continued walking throughout the day. Making their way through a marsh, they dried their feet in an open grassy field, and made it into a forest before nightfall. Sam made a fire to keep everyone warm throughout the night, while Strider left returning with a sack of various berries and nuts for everyone to eat. Soon enough after the long day of hiking, the hobbits fell asleep. To be sure they would not wake up while he was gone; Strider waited for a short time then left.
Aragorn knew he would never be able to find her, because she had lived in the outdoors for longer than he had been alive. So Strider walked out of hearing range from the campsite and waited.
Within moments, a woman an inch or so smaller then Strider, walked through the tree's and stopped feet away from Strider. He bowed deeply. Adelaide's hair, shining dark as night, fell from behind her pointed ear as she slightly bowed her head.
"Aragorn, it has been many years since we last met."
"Yes, indeed it has, far too long in my opinion." She smiled lightly at his comment.
"How long have you been following the Hobbits?" He questioned.
"Gandalf asked me to follow them; I have been trailing them since they have left the Shire." Adelaide answered quietly.
"That long?" she nodded. Aragorn felt at ease knowing the Hobbits had been in good hands, even if they did not know it.
"While In Bree, what did you do in the meantime? I did not see you at the inn." Aragorn knew she would never walk into a bar alone, not what happened so many years ago.
"I found another way in; I did not want that gatekeeper knowing that I was here. But I saw you were watching over them, so I caught up on some much needed sleep." He nodded.
"You will be joining us on our journey to Rivendell them?"
"Yes, there is no reason for me to keep following from a distance now that you and the Hobbits know. And I miss Arwen." She smiled, happy that she would be seeing her best friend again. The elf and ranger stood, and made their way back to the campsite to find the hobbits still resting, peacefully.
"The black riders will be close to us soon enough, you should get some sleep, you need it." Adelaide commented when she saw Aragorn stifle a yawn.
"Agreed." And he promptly fell asleep. Aragorn, most likely, had less sleep then herself last night. And Adelaide, like all the elves, Could last longer with little to no sleep, unlike men. Adelaide lowered herself to lean against the nearest tree to watch over the four hobbits and man.
The next morning, Aragorn awoke to a warm fire, The Hobbits were still asleep and their new companion was polishing her sword and long knives.
Without looking up, "Did you sleep well?" Adelaide questioned quietly.
"If there had been an actual warm dry bed, it would have been much better." He replied stretching his stiff muscles. She nodded, understanding completely. Being out in the woods was peaceful and all, but nothing could beat a nice warm bed at the end of a long day.
Sam had woken up to the sounds of low voices, his fellow Hobbits still fast asleep, he decided to cook some bacon that he still had from the Shire. His movement caused Adelaide to sheath her weapons.
The other three woke up to the smell of bacon that was cooking in the pan next the fire. The smell was making Adelaide sick to her stomach, forcing her to leave their small clearing to get some fresh air. Sam looked offended, but Aragorn eased his worry, "She does not eat meat Sam., the smell of it was bothering her stomach." Aragorn knew from previous experiences, the smell alone could make her sick to her stomach. And just now, she was looking paler then usual.
"No meat?" the Hobbits were stupefied. Pippen had said something along the lines of 'But no meat means no bacon, and how could someone live without bacon?'
"It is a long story." Aragorn was not sure if these Hobbits should hear her story, and if so, did he have her permission to do so.
"Do all elves not eat meat?" Sam queried.
"Not all, but quite a few. Rivendell is about half vegetarians. But Mirkwood is around seventy- five percent non meat eaters." Aragorn answered their question.
Once all the bacon had been eaten, Adelaide returned, looking flushed.
"We must hurry; the ring wraths have tracked us. We must leave."
They quickly packed their belongings and scurried away. Aragorn was leading the group while Adelaide was following. Aragorn led them into the thick woods, branches and thorns were everywhere. But soon enough Adelaide could no longer sense the black riders.
By the time the group of six arrived at the watchtower, it was nightfall. The hobbits were cooking more food so Adelaide went upwind, on the other side of the watchtower, accompanied by Aragorn.
"They both sat down on a ledge. "What have you been doing for the past... how long has it been?" Adelaide questioned.
"Around three years?"
"Nothing interesting … I have thought a lot about you, you know."
"I have missed your company." He looked into her pitch black eyes. "Our adventures together were quite interesting." Adelaide laughed at this, "Do you remember that one morning you lost your trousers while bathing in the river?" Aragorn was playfully glaring at her.
"Oh yes, walking back to camp back in my cloak was quite funny." He laughed.
"But when you thought you had misplaced your sword that was even more amusing." She swatted at his hand that was running along the length of her sword. Remembering being completely freaked out…and tackling Aragorn to the ground when she found it up a tree. She had drawn his own dagger upon his throat. But the look of amusement in his eyes had distracted her enough for Aragorn to be able to flip them over.
And that had made her heart pound and color to rise to her cheeks. He was so close to kissing her, but she couldn't help the memories that flooded into her mind. Aragorn, being a gentleman, and knowing what had caused her muscles to tense up, had thrown himself off of her, apologizing repeatedly. The pain those memories had caused her was still close to her. She was not, and is still not, fully healed, but with time the pain was floating away. Her mind and body were becoming clearer every day.
But their pleasant moment was quickly interrupted by the screeching of the ring-wraiths. They had been found.
By the time Aragorn and Adelaide had gotten over to the other side, the ring wraiths were already attacking the Halflings.
With swords drawn, the two swordsmen approached the black riders. Adelaide had successfully forced one of them off the cliff when Frodo's scream of agony had forced Adelaide to his aid.
His wound looked awful and was bleeding profusely, and as Aragorn picked up the weapon that had stabbed Frodo, it disintegrated in his hand.
"A Morgul-Blade."
"Sam do you know the Athelas plant?"
"Athelas?"
"Kingsfoil."
"Aye that's a weed."
"It may help to slow the poison."
While those two were hunting for the herb, Adelaide had been keeping pressure on the wound with a part of Frodo's shirt to help stop the bleeding. The weed would do no good if he bled to death.
The footsteps of a third person distracted, Adelaide from her thoughts, someone else was here, she listened closely. They sounded familiar, most definitely an elf…Arwen?
"Whats this? A ranger caught off his guard?"
"Arwen." He breathed. "One of the Halflings is wounded." He led her back to Frodo.
"He needs the medicines of my people; he needs to be taken to Rivendell."
"I will take him. I know these roads more then the two of you. I will take him and I can use the river to protect us." Arwen said while calling her horse forth.
"Be safe sister." Adelaide answered, helping lift Frodo into the saddle.
"I will see you in Rivendell." And she was off.
The ring-wraiths would soon be upon Arwen, meaning the rest of them were safe. And since they had just been attacked by the black riders, everyone was wide awake, so they continued to Rivendell, hoping Frodo would make it safe and unharmed.
The rest of their journey was uneventful. When they were a day from Rivendell, Arwen's brothers had found them, and joined them on their way.
They told of Arwen's journey and safe arrival. Frodo was currently being treated for his wound by Lord Elrond personally.
"If he arrived an hour later, he would not have made it."
They made it by nightfall. None wanted anything other then some warm food and a warm bed.
No one could visit Frodo until the morning, so the Hobbits indulged in some feasting before bed. Aragorn and Adelaide went to speak with Lord Elrond.
"Will he recover?"
"He will, but the wound will be with him forever, a scar that will never fade."
A soft knock sounded at the door.
"Come in." A Pale faced elf walked in, her long black hair moving with the breeze from the balcony where they were currently standing. Adelaide's face brightened immediately.
"My sister, I had hoped to see you much sooner, and not because of circumstances such as these." Arwen said in elvish, and hugged her best friend.
"I know, and for that I am sorry. Much has kept me busy and distracted recently." Adelaide apologized. Arwen had been the sister that Adelaide never had.
"Why don't the two of you for and catch up. There will be a council and Adelaide, I would be very grateful if you attended. But for now, go, have some fun. Arwen caught Adelaides hand and pulled her away from the two men.
Elrond loved Adelaide as a daughter, and seeing her smile again warmed hi heart.
The two young elves left Elrond and Aragorn alone, staring out over a balconey, overlooking Rivendell.
"Where are you taking me?" Adelaide groaned. She was being dragged by Arwen.
"Oh stop complaining," She laughed.
"I know you will enjoy yourself."
"Arwen…are we going to the wine cellar?" The young elf asked, seeing familiar surroundings. Sure enough, the two elleths were in a candle lit room, surrounded by barrels of some of the finest elven wine.
"I have always said you were a bad influence on me." Adelaide laughed, when she was presented with a glass of red wine.
"But you know you love it." Arwen countered, it was going to be a long night.
"How has she been Aragorn?"
"Quiet. I think being around the Hobbits makes her uncomfortable. The night Frodo was attacked, we had been talking, away from the Halflings, and she seemed fine, almost normal."
Lord Elrond sighed, although Adelaide had partially recovered, it still pained him to think of her terrible past.
"Aragorn, you must be tired, get some sleep, we shall talk again once you have rested."
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