Arial

Stubbornness

Chapter Three

By Bethuviel

Disclaimer: The estate of J.R.R. Tolkien owns all recognizable characters from the works of literature encompassing The Lord of The Rings. I have received no compensation for any work I have written and/or published on this site.

Author's note: All reviews, whether critical or applauding are appreciated.

oOo

Elrond sprinted to the front door and called her name. Arial did not slow or pause, but kept running. The rain blew inside the doorway forming a small pool of water in the foyer of The Last Homely House. He called again, but for his own reasons, Elrond allowed her to continue her flight. He watched until she was a speck moving across the horizon. He stepped back and shook the water from his robes and hair. Disgusted, he walked to the warmest room in his home. Elrond did not feel the dampness of the air or the chill, but he did feel the need for the comfort of a blazing fire.

In the Hall of Fire, Elrond dropped his head in sorrow. He had expected Arial to faint, cry, stomp her foot, anything but run away. He looked at the imprint still in the chair where she had sat, then at the towels she had used. Vaguely, he wondered if she knew how to start a fire; humans caught the cold so easily. He would not ride out after her, nor would he send riders for her. She would have to come to terms with the truth of the matter on her own. Knowing she could not survive for very long, Elrond expected her to return. He also knew that she would have to return on her own of her own free will. He sighed mentally and accepted his part in her running away. Elrond stood straight, drew a deep cleansing breath, walked out of the Hall of Fire and to his study. He had some final preparations to look over for the council that he had called and was expecting more guests to arrive in the morning.

Elrond was exasperated and mumbled to himself as he shuffled through some loose papers on his desk, "I have enough to concern myself at present. Those two hobbits, Meriadoc and Peregrin." He snorted. "Frodo is better, yes much better, talking to Bilbo. Poor little Bilbo. Like water pouring out of a bucket, age has come upon him." Elrond set the papers down and looked out of a window into his wife's gardens. "I will not allow that cursed ring to stay here. We can not fight both Sauron and Saruman. Why can no one understand the time of the elves is ending and we will sail from these shores to our blessed hope? We are no longer Arda's husbandmen. Who will stand in our place?" He watched the rain drops hit the closed petals of Celebrian's roses. "I will see you again, my love. I am coming. Wait for me a little longer; soon we will reunite, never to separate again. I promise." He dabbed at the dampness around his eyes with his fingertips. "Soon, my love. Soon."

oOo

Arial ran out of the Last Homely House. She ran even when she heard Elrond call her name. She dared not slow down, but kept to the path that Elrohir had previously led her. She was glad she had paid attention to the details of the trees, flowers, and shrubbery. Arial could navigate using those landmarks. Soon she was under the cleft of the mountain of the dale she had just left. Sharp pains tore through her abdomen but she forced herself to continue running, controlling her breathing. "The pain feels good, the pain feels good," she thought in an effort to keep running. When she was back to where she had originally been found by Elrohir at the Bruinen, she fell to the ground, gasping for air. She looked back the way she had come and watched to see if anyone had followed her. She kept blinking the rain out of her eyes to clear her vision. After she had caught her breath she sat up, having decided that she was alone, again.

Arial watched the water flow quickly past her and knew she could not safely cross the river. She looked at the mountains in the distance and decided that would be her course. Perhaps on the other side she would find saner people without the pointed ears. "This is too weird," she thought. "From another dimension my rear end. I bet they're all just hootin' it up right now. He almost had me there for a minute…until I got some sense. Daddy always said I never had much common sense. Well I got more 'en that. Another dimension…" She stood up and looked at herself. "I've got to find some shelter."

Her clothes were soaked, and her hair was stuck to her head. Droplets of water fell onto her already wet shoulders and ran down her back. "I'm a muddy mess," she told herself. "Be lucky if I don't catch pneumonia and die out here…" She walked as steady as she could in the moisture sodden terrain. She slipped and fell a few times, adding more decoration to her already bedraggled appearance. She spied a copse of trees and knew that area would be her best chance to find a shelter of sorts. She sludged on, determined to arrive before she turned into a waterlogged prune.

The trees were large, with their boughs full of fir laden branches. She leaned against one and rested. The muscles in her legs throbbed and burned, and her bones ached. Arial was not used to such physical exertions. Before this trip into paradise, her daily exercise routine consisted of walking back and forth to the refrigerator and the bathroom in her house. She decided she needed a fire and wondered around looking at the wood laying on the ground. She picked what she thought was not soaked through and began making a pile next to a tree that shielded her from most of the rain. When she had a mound equal to half of her five foot seven inch frame, she plopped down and fingered her jean pockets until she found her lighter. She pulled it out and realized she wanted a cigarette. They were at home on the nightstand beside her bed. "Shit!" She yelled. "Now what am I going to do? Bet these freaks don't believe in a good ol' fashioned Nat Sherman." She dug around in her pockets and pulled out the clothes dryer fuzz. She looked at it hard and knew she didn't have enough to start a fire. She grabbed at the bottom of the cotton pocket and pulled it out. She yanked hard until it ripped free and repeated the process with her other front pocket. She realized she needed wood for her fire and stuffed the cotton down her bra to keep it dry. Arial got up again, removed some of the wood from her pile and set it meticulously on the ground close to where she would sit down. When she was satisfied, she sat back down and removed the cotton from her bra. She worked her fingers in between the wood and placed the cotton where she thought she would have the best chance of it catching the wood. She removed the other piece and put it in a different spot. She worked her lighter inside and flicked it. The cotton caught fire and she blew on the wood. She inhaled and blew until she felt lightheaded. At last when she thought she would faint, the fire caught the wood and she leaned back. "Take that you pointy ears." The fire was a little smoky but she did not care. She could feel the heat. She needed the warmth and could feel it already seeping into her tired body. Afraid the fire would go out, she fought to stay awake. She did not want to give up anymore of her clothing for wadding to start another fire. She smirked. She thought back to the sixties and a picture she had seen in a history book she had studied. If she were really desperate, she could start a women's movement here and burn her bra. She giggled at the thought. She was no feminist and she knew it.

Sometime that evening the rain stopped. Arial looked up and saw the moon beginning its journey as the sun set on the horizon, its last rays peeking through the cloudy sky. She put her back against the tree, bent her legs and hugged her knees. She wondered vaguely about the time, and if anyone from home noticed her absence. Would they search for her? Would they fill out the three thousand papers for a missing persons report? She let her imagination run various scenarios as she poked at the fire with a stick and watched the escaping embers drift upwards. Suddenly she worried about catching the small forest on fire. She was alert again, watching and hoping she had not created a disaster. She could hear Elrond's voice in her head accusing her, "You come to our world and set it on fire. You are the doom of our time." That thought caused her to start thinking about other words he had said to her. One thing that ate at her was how did he know what her parents looked like? She began to wonder if just maybe Elrond was not so crazy. "What if it were all true?" She asked herself. "As crazy as it sounds, what if it were all true. Somehow I passed through some dimensional thingy and wound up here?" She shook her head. "It's just too crazy to believe, like some weird late night television science fiction show."

Arial thought about the maps. They were so detailed. What had he said….Master Keeper of Knowledge. And she had tried to rip off the points of Elrohir's ear only to discover they did not come off. Even the servant had pointed ears. People generally did not keep members of their family as servants, so it was not a genetic disorder. Arial thought more of what he said concerning the doom of our time. It was too fantastic to believe, but there it was laid bare before her like a feast on a banquet table. She shook her head again and felt something sharp poke into her right cheek. Surprised she jumped away. She looked up and saw a figure pointing an arrow knocked in a bow at her.

"Oh my god," she stammered repeatedly.

A voice spoke back to her, "I do not think your god hears you for he has not answered your urgent summons even though we have been patient and waited."

Arial shut her mouth and thought for a few seconds about what the man had said. "He thinks I'm calling on a god," she thought then she spoke aloud, "Please don't kill me. I don't want to die. Especially not now."

The man cocked his head to one side and asked, "Why not now?" Another figure discreetly elbowed the speaker in the ribs.

Arial could not believe this. "Well this is just friggin' rich. Let's just see how many reasons I can come up with and maybe you'll understand why. One, I like living. Two, I'm in no hurry to die. Three, It'll probably hurt." She paused a moment while she pushed the arrow away from her face then growled, "Four, I'm hungry, and don't want to spend eternity that way." She sighed and continued, "Five, I'm lost and don't want to die when I don't even know where I am and no one will probably ever find my body and I won't get buried right and animals will chew on me and…" She stood up and continued talking a good five minutes before she noticed that the five figures surrounding her had lowered their bows and arrows and were staring at her with their mouths gaping open. She lowered her head and finished, "Anyway, today's just not a good day for me to die. Tomorrow's not looking good either. As a matter of fact, how 'bout just never."

One man stepped forward, removed his hood and revealed his face. "Mistress, please forgive me. I will not harm you, nor will any here allow you to be harmed."

"Oh, you were just playing around…okay…I get it…ha ha ha." Arial looked at the man like he were a jackass.

"Did you say you are lost?" The man asked, wanting to change the subject.

Arial perked up to an almost cheerful disposition and replied, "Yes I am. Right good too. Barely escaped from a bunch of loony's running around in stage clothes trying to convince me that I've fallen into another dimension. I tell you, some people!" The men waited for her to tell them about some people and noticing that she no intention of speaking shifted their weight from one foot to another. "Say," she started again causing the men to suddenly pay attention again. "You tell me where I'm at?"

The same man who had spoken to her before said, "First allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Legolas, son of Thranduil, of Green Wood the Great. I am at your service, Mistress." He bowed to her.

Arial watched as he rose again and returned the introduction, "Arial Middleton, daughter of Michael and June Middleton, of Waverly, Kentucky. It is an honor and a privilege to make your acquaintance." Arial hoped she did not have to go through this every time she met someone new. It was getting tiresome. "And please, call me Arial." She wasn't sure if being called mistress was good or bad, but she knew she did not like being called by that reference.

Legolas smiled at her, "A pleasure to meet you Arial. My traveling companions," he pointed with his hand for each, "Elladan, son of Master Elrond, of Rivendell." He stepped forward and bowed to her. She thought he looked just like Elrohir and knew that previous comment of hers would not go well. She bit her lip as she inclined her head to him in acknowledgment. "Estel, son of Master Elrond, of Rivendell," Arial wondered how many people were related to that man as she inclined her head again, "And hailing from Green Wood the Great, I present Rumil, son of Orin, and Olwin, son of Euraphais." Legolas studied Arial, not sure what sort of person he had stumbled upon; certainly no lady of any stature from any of the finer families. She was common, that much was obvious, and certainly beneath one of his station, but none-the-less a woman in need of assistance.

Arial was unsure of what to do. She could not run again, she was surrounded by people who knew Lord of the Pointy Ears Elrond. She knew she could not follow them back to Rivendell or allow them to take her there again after calling the inhabitants loons.

Legolas began the conversation again, "You said you were lost, Arial. And your home is in Waverly, Kentucky?" He was truly at a loss. He had never heard of such a place and could not recall ever having read or studied anything that contained a mention of it.

"Yes, Waverly Kentucky. Let me guess, you've never heard of it either?" She was rude and she knew it. Arial did not care, but had decided that rudeness was her best chance to be rid of them and on her way hopefully home. Perhaps on the other side of those mountains she would meet someone who knew where Kentucky was located.

Legolas was put off and it showed. Estel stepped forward and offered, "Forgive us, Arial. In all my travels and I have journeyed over the face of Arda through many lands for numerous years, and even I have not had the pleasure of discovering Waverly Kentucky."

Elladan thought she was rude but could not bear the idea of her being not only lost but also alone. "My father is counted among the wise, I am sure he would be able to assist you."

Arial just smirked. That was exactly what she wanted, to go back to Elrond's house and watch how they all acted when they discovered she had just been there and had insulted all of them by calling them crazy. She was tired and could not help but giggle. When she saw their reaction, she realized she had done so aloud. Arial blushed and looked away.

Legolas spoke, "I do not see what is humorous. We are only trying to help you, but if you do not need such assistance, we have been mistaken and intruded upon you. We shall beg your forgiveness and take our leave." He walked away, Rumil and Olwin followed closely behind him.

Estel watched Legolas and his personal escorts leave and sighed. "Arial, please, it is not safe. A dire shadow moves across all lands in these present days. Please, allow us to escort you to safety, for if you remain alone, I fear for you." When he saw that she did not plan to follow him, Estel moved closer to her and whispered, "Evil will surely find you if you do not come with us. Please Arial, trust me. You do not understand the dangers that lurk in all lands. Please Arial; allow me to escort you to the safety of Rivendell."

Arial was frightened. Until this moment, she had willing to brave all of their Arda to return home. She could see that his concern was genuine and he did not have pointy ears. He looked as human as she. Elladan stepped closer to her, causing her to jump slightly.

"It is how I lost my mother, Arial. She traveled with a great escort, heavily armed and well trained. When we found her, it was too late. She has sailed over." Arial thought he meant his mother was dead and felt sorry for him.

"I'm sorry Elladan." She pouted for a few minutes, unsure of what to do.

"It would be best for you Arial, and give us peace of mind if you were to travel with us to my father's house."

Arial looked at Elladan and knew he was probably right. She could apologize for calling his family crazy, and stay there if only for the night.

At the last second she changed her mind. "I appreciate your concern but really there is no need for y'all to worry. I'm a big girl and I'll be alright. As a matter of fact, I'm heading over those mountains and going north." Estel and Elladan went wide-eyed. Legolas had heard her and immediately turned around and ran back.

"Arial!" He called as he ran up in front of her. "I would not suggest that as your destination. You would make a fine appetizer for the spiders of the wood." He stared at her with his jaw line firm.

"Spiders?" She stomped her foot on the ground. "That's what you do to spiders. You step on them." Elladan and Estel stared at her in shock.

Legolas cleared his throat, "You simply do not step on these spiders. They are six feet across and three to four feet high." He put his hand out beside him to indicate their height. "They step on you just before they eat you." He gestured with his other hand at her to emphasize his point.

"If you even make it to the woods after all the orcs you'll surely meet traveling through the mountains," added Elladan, "who when they catch you will probably rape you while they eat you alive."

"That's only if the goblins do not catch her first." Estel frowned at her.

Arial stepped back from them. Giant spiders? What was an orc? Goblins aren't real, but supposedly elves weren't either. "What in the world are you people talking about? Wait!" She held up her hands, "I'm not sure I want to hear it. I'm out of here, and I'll go south."

"And straight to Isengard!" Exclaimed Estel.

"If she makes it past the orcs!"

"And probably a few wargs as well."

Arial snorted. "And just where would it be safe to travel?" The sarcasm dripped from her tongue.

In unison, they all said, "Rivendell."

"Good bye!" She exclaimed as she walked away. "I'm going west, probably orcs there too, but I'm going. See me go. West. I'm going west." They walked up beside her.

"And where will you go, that you head west?" Asked Elladan.

"Look fellas, I'm just trying to get home. I know those maps showed a coast line to the west. It looked kinda familiar and I'm going there."

Rumil, who had remained silent, was tired of this insolent woman who would not listen to reason. He glanced at Olwin, wishing they were free of this entire situation and were already at Rivendell. Olwin, knowing his friend's thoughts, shrugged. They stood by, helpless to do anything to improve the situation.

Arial turned away and began walking west. She hoped the men would leave her alone. She stepped softly, listening to see if any were following her. She kept going, confident in her choice. She would not be satisfied that she had fallen into any sort of place without some sort of definite concrete proof. She knew beyond doubt that Elrond believed what he was telling her, but she needed more than just his words. For all she knew, he had hypnotized her, asked her some questions, and found out a general description of her parents. And that general description along with pointed ears was not enough for Arial. She was stubborn, slow to trust and somewhat quick to anger. She knew these things about herself, and she had no inclination to change those things.

"Then we shall travel with you as far as Rivendell. Perhaps Master Elrond will allow someone to escort you as far as Bree," Legolas said after they had caught up with her, thankful to have won this much with the stubborn woman.

"I wasn't planning on stopping over in Rivendell. Just planning on scootin' right 'round. Got lots of ground to cover." She replied. Estel rolled his eyes.

Elladan worked out a plan in his head. "I am getting hungry, Estel. What do you suppose Ada will have for dinner tonight?"

Estel knew instantly Elladan's plan. "This journey has been long Elladan. I hope he has the roasted duck I requested before we left home."

Legolas joined in, "In orange sauce, with fresh yeast rolls…"

"And mashed potatoes with heaping fresh butter…"

"And corn on the cob!" Exclaimed Estel.

"Do not forget the dressing," added Elladan.

Arial's stomach growled so loud she was sure everyone else heard her. She tried thinking of something other than food and began singing a song. It was one of her favorites, "Into the Mystic", by Van Morrison. She was not shy and sang loudly to cover their voices. Her voice was strong and carried true. She completely immersed herself in the lyrics, feeling the soul of the words and notes. Arial did not notice that everyone hushed and listened to her sing. She had no way of knowing the elves love of the sea, and captured their undivided attention. As Arial sang, she became one with the song, letting her body move to the rhythm.

We were born before the wind

Also younger than the sun

And we bond both as one

As we sail into the mystic

Hark now hear the sailor's cry

Smell the sea and feel the sky

Let your soul and spirit fly

Into the mystic

When that fog horn blows

I will be coming home

When the fog horn blows

I want to hear it

I don't have to fear it

And I want to rock your gypsy soul

Just like way back in the days of old

Magnificently we will flow into the mystic

When that fog horn blows

You know I will be coming home

When that fog horn whistle blows

I gotta hear it; I don't have to fear it

And I want rock your gypsy soul

Just like way back in the days of old

And together we will float

Into the mystic

Too late to stop now

She breathed a cleansing breath. She felt renewed. She had never understood why she loved the song; she only knew that she did. It somehow called to her, a longing she could not identify. She felt tears well up in her eyes and she blinked them away. Arial noticed the silence around her. She did not mind, it was what she wanted. She kept walking forward, determination in every step. It was Legolas who broke the silence.

"Arial, have you sailed on the sea before?"

"Huh?" She realized what he had asked of her, "Uh, no."

"But you sing as one who loves it, and of one you love."

"Oh, the song. No, I've never sailed anything. It's just a song where I'm from. I just happen to like it. A lot."

Elladan joined, "You sing well. There is a passion in your voice that captivates."

Arial had never been complimented on her singing and she felt uncomfortable, yet grateful that they did not think she was horrid at it. "Thank you. You were my first audience."

"Truly?" A shocked Legolas asked.

"Yep. Never bothered to sing in front of anybody before." Arial blushed.

"Why not?" Asked Estel.

"Too shy."

"Why were you brave now?" Asked Legolas.

"Just felt like it, you know. This place," she gestured around her, "does something to me. Relaxes me for the most part. Makes me feel ok with me." She slapped her hand over her mouth. She did not want to say the last part aloud. Arial did not want anyone thinking or believing there was something wrong with her.

"Thank you, Arial. My home has that effect on people," Elladan said with a matter of fact tone of voice.

"You're welcome."

They walked further for a few minutes before Estel if she would sing another song for them.

"I'd rather not, but thank you for asking. Instead, I need to get directions from you. That windy part is up ahead and I don't feel like going down into the Rivendell place. Do I just go on this road?"

Estel sighed, realizing she was indeed stubborn. "Yes, Arial. Stay on this road. It will lead you all the way to the village of Bree. But I would not advise you continuing alone. There is great danger for you to do so."

Arial spun on her heel, irritated again, "I am free and over the age of twenty-one, and I don't need anybody's permission to do a daggone thing. Thank you." She stomped away, leaving them to continue on to Rivendell without her.

Estel, Legolas, Elladan and the guards watched Arial leave. They felt sorrow at her parting. "I can not believe she will not come with us, Estel," said Elladan.

"Nor I," replied Estel.

"Were it not for the grievous news I must bear to this council, I would go with her, whether she wished it or not." Legolas turned away from her and continued down into the dell. He hoped that no evil befell her, but he was bound by his duty to appear at Rivendell.

"I also would see her to Bree were I not bound to this council."

"As would we all," said Elladan.

oOo

Arial guessed it was in the middle of the night as the moon was directly overhead. She was tired and could barely hold her eyes open. She found a few boulders with a little nook that she could squeeze into and curled up. "At least I'm not in the open," she thought as she fell asleep.

When she awoke, the sun had just crested the horizon. She crawled out and looked around her. She had stayed close to the road and decided to resume her journey. Her stomach growled and she was thirsty. She was beginning to regret that she had not stayed overnight in Rivendell. She had no choice but to walk, she could not go back now. She rubbed her belly, wishing she had something to eat. She had never really thought about how important food could be until now when she had none. Before it was a simple walk into the kitchen, and when those supplies were low, a trip to the supermarket. She scanned the horizon, hoping for signs of civilization and saw none.

"Where's a gas station when you need one?" She asked herself aloud. "Man, what I would give for a soda and a pie, or a sausage biscuit, or even a greasy tater chip." She sighed and trudged on.

"Jeez! How far back in the boon docks am I?" She exclaimed. "And where's the friggin' black top? Dirt roads everywhere…now just plain ol' muddy roads. Mud here, mud over there, mud! Mud! Mud!" She couldn't stand it any longer and went over to the bank of the Bruinen. She knelt down and drank her fill. She never imagined she could be so thirsty. She looked at herself and hopped in. She felt like a kid. She swam around for a few minutes before settling on a rock under the water. She rubbed the mud and dirt off of her clothes, her body and out of her hair. She used her finger for a toothbrush. Suddenly she felt the urge. She had to relieve herself. She got up out of the water, climbed up the bank and looked for a bush to squat behind. She was in the middle of taking care of her business when she felt the ground vibrate. Arial turned three shades paler, jerked her jeans up and started looking around. At first she could see nothing. Then movement caught her eye. A black mass was moving toward her fast.

"What in the world?" She blocked the sun with her hand, watching it get closer. She could hear grunting and growling. "Wha tha hell?"

"Holy Shit!" She squealed. There were big muscular black demons across the river running straight for her, waving swords above their heads. Arial almost fainted. She felt her knees start to give away and she hit herself repeatedly on her hips with her fists which jarred her enough to keep her conscious. She spun around and ran, screaming at the top of her lungs. Arial ran faster than she ever thought she could run. She paid no attention to where she was running; only that she was getting away.

"There really is a heaven and a hell. And the demons have done come after me. Oh God, I'm so sorry I never really believed. Save me!" She screeched in her mind. She could still hear the demons behind screaming at her. Her body produced more adrenaline and she ran faster, almost becoming a blur with the countryside. She ran until she reached the fork leading to Rivendell where she skidded around the curve. She slipped and slid all the way down but at last she burst through the front door, screaming aloud, "Demons! Demons! Save me! Save yourselves! Get your guns! Give me one! Demons!"

Elves rushed to the foyer and stared at her wide-eyed and open mouthed. She was hysterical and kept screaming, "God help us all!" She pointed behind her, "Demons! Demons! They're right behind me! Demons!" She drew a quick breath and screamed "Ai!" Arial then ran through the elves that had gathered around her and down the hall leading to the kitchens of Imladris.

She burst through the swinging door and slid across the floor. There was a bar beside her and she reached out and grabbed the muffins on the counter. She stuffed them as fast as she could into her mouth. She stuffed more into her shirt giving her front torso a bumpy misshapen appearance. She grabbed a pitcher of juice and chugged it down, the excess running in rivers down her cheeks. She saw the shocked look of the elves and started babbling as she ate more muffins causing pieces of the food to fly from her mouth. "Demons are a coming here, I saw em' myself. God help us…run!" Arial flew from the kitchen and outside into the gardens. She slipped on the wet cobblestones and her feet went up into the air as her head came down and banged the walkway. Her last thought was that she would not die hungry.

oOo

Author's note: That's it for chapter three, another on the way soon. R&R please!

Nat Sherman is a registered trademark SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide.

The author Bethuviel does not promote smoking.

SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide.