Here's another chapter! Technically I was going to have this one and the previous one combined, but I think this worked out better.
Thank you for all the reviews! I really appreciate it! Keep sending in what you think! No flames please. They kill children, but constructive criticism is always welcomed!
—ON WITH THE STORY NOW!—
"Ariel, look there it is!" Alassëa spoke, catching my attention. After our little incident with the Black Riders, the rest of the journey was thankfully quiet and peaceful. There were no more surprises and thankfully the weather had been fine as well.
I looked up to seeing the familiar entrance up ahead. There were trees that grew along the wall. When I first came here, years ago, I could see the grey wall that stood behind them. Now, they had gotten so big, It was almost as if the trees themselves had taken over. Two large trees stood looming over the gate. The leaves from the branches that arched over the doors split the sun's rays as her light shone on the door.
I smiled seeing two familiar elves standing there, waiting for us. "Elladan! Elrohir!" I called to the twins' quickening Mistiel's pace. Behind me, Alassëa followed. Both elves turned when they heard me call out their names.
"Ariel, Alassëa! Mae tollen! (Welcome)" Elrohir, I believe called out to us as we hurried over. Even though I had known them for years, I still had trouble telling the two apart. I don't know… I've always been like that.
"Elladan, it is good to see you both." Alassëa greeted the elf that was walking over to her horse. Oh if that was Elladan, then that means he was the one that spoke. He held her horse steady as she got off and fixed her cloak. Some how Alassëa was better at telling the two apart then I was.
"How was your journey?" Elrohir asked as he walked over to Mist. He smiled and raised a hand to pet her. However, Mist let out a snort and stomped her foot keeping him from touching her. Elrohir stopped and took a step back.
I frowned looking down at her, "Dîn Mist." I said silencing her. Mist just stood still allowing Elrohir to pet her.
Elrohir shook his head, "She's still stubborn isn't she."
I sighed shaking my head as I slipped off of her and landed on the ground next to him. "She has always been a stubborn one." I replied stroking her mane. Mist snorted turning her head towards me. I shook my head laughing. "But she is still a good mare. I love her." I smiled. At that Mist looked away again. Elrohir chuckled he then turned to where Alassëa and Elladan were walking over.
"Elrohir, Adar said to bring them once they arrive." Elladan reminded him. Elrohir nodded his head then turned towards me. "Come, let us head inside now." He said happily.
I nodded my heard excitedly. I was very excited to see Arwen again. It had been a while now since I had seen her. We walked through the arched entrance and passed a couple more trees then there sat Rivendell. High above the gorge, which was thick with pines and other delicious shrubs. Along stonewalls, I could see the water falls as they traced a path down to the river below it.
I smiled looking at the sight. It was a beautiful place. I loved it here. But I also loved my home back in Lórien. This, I considered my second home.
"So what adventures will we be having this time?" I asked as we walking up the stone steps. Behind me I could tell Alassëa was shaking her head. She always thought that I needed to relax more often, but how could I? I was a type of elf that loved to travel and explore nature, not one that sat around.
Elladan thought for a second, glancing at Elrohir quickly before turning towards me, "Well… you will just have to see." He replied before turning back towards the front. I just nodded my head, but I knew something was wrong. The glance that Elladan had given his brother told me so.
We arrived to double doors where the twins paused. I stood there tapping my foot impatiently. I know they were trying to bother me and see how patient I really was. I was about to say something, but then the door opened and there stood Lord Elrond, behind him Arwen was trying to peak. Instantly her face brightened. Mine did as well.
"Ariel!" she pushed past her father and hurried over to me. "Arwen!" I grunted as I was pulled into a hug. I then smiled hugging her back. We then pulled away and Arwen greeted Alassëa with the same type of hug.
"Gwannas lû and Alassëa. (It has been long)" she said pulling away, "You were not there when I had come"
Alassëa just smiled, "Goheno nin, I was on an errand at the time." She explained apologetically. Which was true. Lady Galadriel had sent her with Haldir to some other place. I was not sure where. No one would tell me.
Just then Elrond spoke, nodding to both of us. "Suilaid Ariel, Alassëa. (Greetings)." He smiled at the two of us.
"It is good to see you Lord Elrond." Alassëa spoke as we both bowed.
"It's good to see you two as well. Come inside and rest. Your journey must have been tiring." He replied as he gestured for us to go through the door.
"Thank you Lord Elrond." I nodded my head as I went first followed by my sister, then Arwen.
Inside I smiled looking at the place. It was a circular room. There weren't that many walls, just pillars that were connected by railings that supported the dorm ceiling.
We all sat down along the couch, which rested along the railing. "Have some tea?" Arwen asked offering me a cup. I smiled taking it, "Thank you." I said and passed it on to Alassëa. I then took the second cup Arwen passes and she took the third cup and sat down next to me.
"How was your journey?" Arwen asked turning towards me.
I shrugged, "It was alright in the beginning, though when we got closer to Rivendell, we ran into the Dark Riders." I explained.
"Dark Riders?" Arwen repeated, "You ran into them?"
"Well we did not cross paths with them. We heard the Riders and quickly got off the road, but they were close." Alassëa stepped in explaining. I stopped talking realizing that when I explained, I was leaving parts out.
"How many were there?" Elrond asked leaning forwards.
"There were, I believe, three." Alassëa explained. She went on to explain how they stood there looking around, speaking something in a language we could not understand. She then explained how they suddenly ran off in a certain direction towards the mountains.
"Towards the mountains? That cannot be good." Elrond sighed leaning back in his chair.
"How come?" I spoke up.
"That is the direction in which Aragorn is traveling." Elrond explained.
"Aragorn?" I repeated. I felt Arwen next to me tense. Of course, Aragorn! I had completely forgot about him.
Aragorn was a dear friend. I met him when he first came to Rivendell. Well more like met him on my way to Rivendell.
It was the usual, I was on my way here to Rivendell when I was attacked by orcs, but Aragorn came along and saved me. After that, we both continued on our way to Rivendell and had become very good friends.
After that, I had seen him a couple times in this city while I was here. I was surprised when I did not see him again.
"Yes he is on his way here with a couple hobbits. From what Gandalf had explained, they shall be arriving here in a couple days." Elrond explained.
"Gandalf?" I repeated straightening up. It had been a while since I had heard the Istar's name. "Is he coming as well?" I asked.
Lord Elrond nodded his head, "Yes, I will explain everything when he arrives, right now you two should head to your room and rest. It is getting late now. Tomorrow we will talk more." He decided getting up suddenly. Alassëa and I both looked at him confused, but didn't say anything getting up as well.
Lord Elrond looked at his two sons nodding to them. They both nodded back with a serious expression and stood up. "Well we shall talk later. You two should rest up now." Ellandan spoke.
Elihor nodded in agreement, "Yes we must be off for some work now. We will talk later." The two bowed towards us and then they were off followed by Lord Elrond as well.
Arwen then let out a sigh of some sort, getting up. "Come Adar is right, it is getting later. I will show you to your rooms."
"You all seem so tense. What has happened?" Alassëa asked looking at her face. Arwen shook her head.
"You have not been the only ones to have run into the Riders. Thankfully you were the first ones to not get hurt by them. They have been in this area much more and because of that Adar has been much more tense than usual."
"I see…" Alassëa nodded her head.
Arwen just shrugged. I could tell there was more. A certain someone in particular. I let out a sigh, placing my hand on her shoulder, "You worry about him don't you?"
Arwen looked at me confused, but then her face cleared. She shook her head smiling slightly while shaking her head, but her face went straight as she spoke again, "Yes, I do worry about him but—"
"You really shouldn't. This is Aragorn. He is strong. He won't let a couple Riders get in his way." I stepped in assuring her.
Arwen nodded her head smiling, "I know. I have faith in him."
"Good." I nodded smiling bigger. I had known about Arwen and Aragorn's relationship. I can't say I was the first to know, but I did find out eventually. Alassëa found it strange that a human and an elf would fall for each other, but she didn't say much about it. Her thoughts were if they truly loved one another and were loyal to each other, that's all that mattered. I would then go on to mock her about Haldir, but then she would hit me. Not hard, but it would hurt at times.
Obviously I would protest, but she wouldn't care. She says I deserve it, which I probably do, but still it was not fair. Alassëa says that I should go off and find someone, but I refused. Not because I didn't want to, but more of I didn't find anyone interesting.
Orophin and Rumil were there, but I considered them to be older brothers, the same with Arwen's twin brothers and the other male elves, I didn't pay much attention to.
We arrived to where our rooms were. Arwen opened them and I smiled, seeing another familiar room. It was always the room I got. Alassëa always got the room across from me.
"Here you two are. I'm sure you don't need explaining of where what is." Arwen spoke. We both shook our heads.
"Thank you Arwen. You should go rest now. You seem very tired." Alassëa remarked patting her back.
Arwen nodded her head, "After I see to that you two are fin—"
"We're fine Arwen. Go rest. We will talk tomorrow." I interrupted. Arwen looked at me then nodded her head, smiling. "Very well then. I will see you tomorrow morning then." We both bowed her heads and watched her leave.
I then let out a yawn, "Well I am off to bed now." I said looking at Alassëa. She nodded her head in agreement.
"Sleep well Ariel. I am first going to send a letter back to Haldir, explaining about the incident and then sleep." I smirked as she said that, but my face straightened up when she glared at me. She then turned around and went into her room.
I just shook my head and headed into mine, closing the door. After washing up and changing clothes, I lied down on the bed with a huff.
The bed was soft and relaxing. Starting tomorrow, the adventures begin. I thought as I turned over and fell asleep.