Chapter Four
Early the next morning, the residents of Elrond's house met for breakfast. Elladan and Elrohir were more subdued than usual, talking quietly with their father, sister and brother-in-law in Elvish. Susan was amused by the Hobbits stashing half of everything they took in bundled-up handkerchiefs for what they called 'second breakfast'.
"They don't provide it, these Elves," Merry confided. "But it's an important Hobbit tradition!"
"Along with elevenses, lunch, tea, dinner, supper and midnight snacks," added Pippin. "Meals are very important. So we make do on the road."
"I think I'd like to visit the Shire," said Susan. "It sounds like a wonderfully sensible place."
"Perhaps we will visit after Arwen has her baby," said Legolas. At their startled looks, he continued, "I have never been, and neither has Susan. It will be a change from the courts of Elves and Men, and a welcome one."
"Glad to hear it," said Pippin. "It'll be nice to have a party to look forward to."
"So don't die on this trip," advised Merry.
"That was not in the plan," said Legolas. "And I have no intention of adding it in."
"Nor do I," said Gimli, helping himself to his fourth cheese and vegetable turnover. "Bu' planning around being attacked is verra important."
"And the chances of us nearly getting killed are what?" asked Susan.
"As we seem to have nothing that is desired by anyone else," said Gandalf, "I should think we'll be quite safe."
"'Til Morwen catches wind of us," said Gimli.
"Perhaps if you bathed more often," suggested Legolas, "she would not 'catch wind' of us coming. And I fear that we do, in fact, have something of value coming with us."
"Susan, you mean," said Merry.
"How d'you figure it's Susan he's talking about?" asked Pippin. "It could very well be his hair."
"That it could!" chortled Gimli.
"I am not that vain," said Legolas blithely. "Any power-hungry being would want someone who came from another world. It might give them an advantage in this world's politics."
"Like yer faither?" said Gimli.
"Much like," agreed Legolas. Noticing Susan's startled look, he added, "One cannot live with a king such as my father is for the centuries that I have and not see the truth of him. The three great Elf-Kings know the lure of power and resist it, for Sauron is their warning."
"As the tale of Aragorn's many times great-grandfather Isildur stands as a warning for Men," said Gandalf, "and the story of Erebor is the warning for Dwarves."
"I thought Erebor was your home," said Susan to Gimli.
"And so it is, lass," said Gimli, "though I haven' lived there for all my life. I'll tell the tale to ye on th' road."
"And on the road is where we should all be soon," said Elladan from the other end of the table. "I am sorry to say so, Father, but those letters are of great importance and should be delivered as quickly as possible."
"And our journey as well," said Legolas. "As honoured as I am to receive the hospitality of Rivendell, ours too is a most urgent journey."
"Thankfully, no undead kings pursue you that I am aware of," said Elrond, rising from the table. "I wish you well, Legolas of Mirkwood, Gimli of Erebor, and Gandalf the White. This is the second time you have left my home on a journey to Mordor, and I pray that this journey is less costly than the last. I wish you well also, Susan Pevensie of London and Narnia. You are a stranger and a guest to this land, and I pray for your sake that this journey goes well."
"Thank you, Lord Elrond," said Susan. "I hope so as well."
"We shall see you all in Minas Tirith," said Arwen. "Travel swiftly and look to one another for strength."
"Try not to argue too much," said Aragorn, clapping his friends on the shoulder. "And be wary when you approach Morwen's home. The area between Lorien and Mordor is a treacherous one."
"We shall take care," said Legolas. "Have faith in us, Aragorn."
"Aye, give us some credit," said Gimli. "We be weathered in battle, all of us. Mind yer Evenstar whist we be gone."
"Evenstar?" asked Susan.
"Amongst Elves, the term 'Evenstar' or, in our tongue 'Undomiel', belongs to the fairest lady," said Elrohir. "It has been our sister's title for many decades now."
"Unsurprising, as the Evenstar before her was her grandmother," said Gandalf, "the Lady of Lothlorien, Galadriel. And to many, Galadriel remains a bright and beloved star."
"Will you want horses, Gandalf?" asked Elrond.
"No," said Gandalf, "I plan for us to take the high pass through the mountains. I fear that the pass will prove to difficult to take horses through."
"Indeed," said Elrond. "Go, while there is plenty of time. You have much ground to cover, and a limited amount of time to do it in. Choose your horses wisely, Elladan and Elrohir. They will make a difference in your quest."
"These are for you," said Legolas, handing Susan a beautiful bow, a full quiver and a mid-length sword. "If it comes to a battle, I am sure they will serve you well."
"Thank you," said Susan, looking over the bow reverently. "I think I can handle them."
"Tha's good," said Gimli, throwing full haversacks at Susan and Legolas. "We nabbed th' best supplies, so ye won't freeze or starve on th' way."
"I believe we're all ready," said Gandalf, turning towards the road out of Rivendell. "Let us go, before we run the risk of the pass closing."
The four of them made their way out of Rivendell at a steady run. Susan, not even bothering to keep up with the long limbs of Legolas and Gandalf, fell in beside Gimli and convinced him to tell her the story of Erebor as they ran. The dragon seemed terrifying enough, but the gold-sickness of the Dwarf King Thrain frightened Susan more. She could easily see how this story would stand in warning.
The forests surrounding Rivendell were beautiful and warm sunlight filtered through the leaves. For a short while, the four ran beside a doe and her fawn, and the animals seemed at ease with the two-legged presence. It reminded Susan of her home in Narnia; had the deer made conversation, the whole thing would have been perfect. As it was, listening to the movement of animals and her companions' footsteps was reassuring. Peter and Lucy had often worked to convince Susan and Edmund to run through the forests with them. Now in very different company, Susan's body remembered the long runs she had taken with her siblings. As with her archery, it was harder than it should have been and easier than expected.
They stopped in a glen near dusk to camp for the night. Each of the four picked a relatively secluded space on the edges of the glen and set themselves up for the night. Where Gimli made his shelter under tree roots and Gandalf set up under a cleft rock, Susan and Legolas found spaces in the trees. Susan found a hollow in a half-dead tree to sleep in. Legolas wove together a mat of branches and placed it on a large, heavy branch near the trunk.
"Well, Legolas," said Gandalf, "What do you see from your perch?"
"No movement that cannot be attributed to animals," said Legolas. "But I feel that something is wrong."
"How wrong?" asked Gimli.
"Just the feeling is enough to want to call a watch," said Gandalf. "I shall go first."
"Let a sturdy warrior go first," said Gimli. "I'll take it."
"My senses are the best," protested Legolas. "I should be the one to go first."
"Indeed your senses are great," concurred Gandalf, "and for that reason, yours should be the watch before dawn."
"I hate to interrupt your discussion," said Susan, calling their attention to her, "but why is my sword blue?"
"Orcs," said Gimli. "Or goblins."
"Well then," said Gandalf. "I suppose we need not worry quite just yet about who takes the first watch."