Chapter 6 Plotting Implemented
The Nandor are the host of Dân, the Wood-elves, the Wanderers, the Axe Elves, the Green Elves and the Brown the Hidden People … The Sindar are the Lemberi, the Lingers; they are the Friends of Ossë, the Elves of the Twilight, the Silvern, the Enchanters, the wards of Melian, the Kindred of Luthien, the people of Elwë…
----JRR Tolkien, Chapter 3: Of the Coming of the Elves, Morgoth's Ring----
A/N Once again, I must thank my wise and wonderful beta, Nieriel Raina. Any errors are my own, and not hers
Grace put her plan into motion the next morning. Sam woke her by asking if she wanted some breakfast. Getting up, she walked over to where the four hobbits were sitting and started a conversation.
"So, what are we having for breakfast?" Amusingly enough, they told her at great length, waxing almost poetic about tomatoes and sausages, and then going into further heights of ecstasy over the mushrooms they found in the woods. She couldn't help from smiling and laughing at their antics.
Soon enough, Gandalf had them packing up and getting ready for the days trek. She eagerly pitched in and helped. As they walked, she asked Sam where he learned his cooking skills. "Cooking the bounty that nature provides is an extension of the joy of growing good things to eat," he told her. Smiling, she agreed with him. As she walked with Frodo and Sam, they talked about their home in a place called the Shire. It sounded idyllic and peaceful.
Sam spoke more of his love of gardening, and it took her back to some of her happiest memories when she was young. The memories of time spend in the garden with her mother were dear to her. It was a special joy they shared with each other before Grace's mother became ill. Every spring they started tomatoes and peppers, placing them in windows around the house until they could be safely planted. They had a vegetable garden and a flower garden, and the house was kept full of fresh flowers until the first frost came. She and Sam were quickly deep in conversation about seeds and soil and how much they both hated weeding.
"I was the youngest in my family," she told him, "they always made me do the weeding; they said I was closest to the ground. I kept believing that one day I would catch up with them and we would share that chore."
"And did you?" Sam asked.
"Unfortunately not. Both of my brothers are much taller than I am and the closer to the ground argument was used every year. At least every year until..." she trailed off.
"Every year until what" Sam asked.
"My mom got sick, and we were all too busy taking care of her to keep the garden up. After she died, I tried, but I was too young to do it by myself. I gave up on the vegetable garden, but I was able to keep some of the flowers she planted healthy. It was never quite the same though. But still," she said brightly, "she left me with a love of growing things, and that is a good way to remember her. One day perhaps when I have time, I will have a garden again."
Legolas, who had been listening and smiling now and then as she and Sam compared notes, asked, "Why don't you have time now?"
"I have been so busy with school, trying to complete my degree, and keeping the house in fairly decent order, I just had to let some things go."
"School?" He asked with a puzzled look. The next few miles were spent in describing how children were educated in her time. They asked so many questions and were so amazed at her answers that she almost began to believe that they really did have no idea of what she was talking about.
After Legolas asked for the third time if they actually made people stay inside and sit still for long hours during the daylight, she laughed and said "When you put it that way it does seem rather like torture."
As the rest of the day continued on, Grace found time to speak with the other members of the group. She was a student, and she loved to learn, so she would find herself asking questions about where they each were from, and what their lives were like. She walked with Boromir for a while as he talked of a place called Minas Tirith. He called it the White City and told her how it would gleam in the sunlight. He spoke of his home with great love and feeling in his voice. Grace told him about New York and how the buildings were so tall that they looked as though they touched the sky. He looked at her with amazement. "How do people get up and down in buildings so tall?" he asked. That led to a whole other discussion about elevators. She explained they were small moving rooms that could lift people up or take them down hundreds of stories in a minute or so. They looked at her as though she was trying to convince them that she could turn lead into gold. So, she quickly abandoned the subject.
Gimli talked of living inside a mountain and told her how dwarves mined for gems and of the wonders they created with their treasures.
"Rocks and dirt, they are the foundations of which the land is made. If not for good rich earth and the minerals in the rocks that feed it, there would be no plants or trees." As he said the last part, he raised his voice and directed its pitch towards the elf walking slightly in front of them.
"I have never disparaged the place rocks and soil have in our world, Master Dwarf, I simply see no reason to spend my time grubbing about in them. Especially when I can be high in the tops of the trees with the wind and sun against my face," the elf replied.
"Humph," snorted the dwarf, "give me a cool, dark cavern full of the riches of the earth anytime over lounging about in tree tops that are far too high above the land. Feet belong on the ground, not on spindly tree branches."
"Perhaps one actually has to have some height to their body to enjoy the riches that exist above the level of an ant hill," laughed Legolas.
Grace watched in bemusement as the elf and dwarf traded barbs, each belittling the qualities of their respective races. Leaving them to their war of wits, she walked further ahead and found her self keeping pace with Aragorn. She was unsure of him, for of all of the members of the group, he seemed the most distant. Finally, she asked, "Is the war of words a regular occurrence between those two?" gesturing to the elf and dwarf who were still deep within their exchange of insults. The elf was more sly and cunning with his words, while the dwarf was straightforward and to the point. When the elf accused all dwarves of eating soil and ground-up rocks, thereby stunting the growth of their race, she had to stifle a laugh at the look of outrage on Gimli's face.
Aragorn gave a grim laugh and said, "It may be amusing now, but after a week or two of listening to them, the charm begins to pall. Come, let us walk a bit faster and perhaps, we will be beyond the sound of their bickering."
After they had walked ahead a few minutes, Grace spoke again, "The Hobbits have told me of their home, and Boromir and Gimli have spoken of theirs, too. Where do you make your home?"
Aragorn was silent for so long that she began to think she had asked an inappropriate question. Finally, he answered, "For many years, I have not had a place to call home, I have lived and traveled in the wilds for so long. I suppose I would have to say that the elven city of Imladris is the closest place I can call home. It is where my family lives."
"I understand that, no matter where I was living while I went to school, home is always where the ones you love dwell. Tell me about your home."
Smiling with a distant look in his eyes, he described a hidden valley, where he was raised far away from the evils they now faced. "My father was killed when I was young, and I was raised by elves, one of which became as a father to me and his sons became my brothers. They created a safe haven for my mother and myself, and taught me with wisdom and grace. All I have accomplished I owe to their guidance. It is my hope that someday I will be able to prove to them that I have learned well the lessons they imparted to me."
"It sounds as though they love you very much; I have no doubt they already see the fruit of their labors in your life. So, does Legolas live in Im la..dris?" she asked, stumbling a bit over the strange name.
"No, he is from the Woodland Realm of Mirkwood, a forest kingdom that lies on the other side of the Misty Mountains. There are four elven realms left in Middle-earth: Imladris, Mirkwood, Mithlond, by the sea, and the hidden realm of Lothlorien."
"I see," she said, although in reality it all sounded a bit like a fairy tale to her.
"I need to scout ahead," Aragorn excused himself, but before he moved off, he turned his intense gaze upon her. "I am sorry for the loss of your family; I hope that you will have the opportunity to find comfort among us until we can find a safe place to leave you. There are many good people left in this land. It will take time, but you will find a place here among us." And with a gentle smile, his long strides took him away from her.
Pippin and Merry joined her after that; they were two of the most curious people she had ever met. They continued their questions of the day before, and she found her self telling them of her brothers and father. She told them of how her brothers teased her constantly, but would not allow any of their friends the same privilege. They laughed. Merry said, "I understand that, I am the only one who is allowed to torment this silly Took."
Pippin chimed in with, "And I will allow no one else to torture this blunder head from Buckland."
Legolas walked close to her for much of the day, simply enjoying watching her. She had an expressive face. Her spirit may be elven,he thought, but she is too young to have yet learned to school her features into the impassive face that we usually present to the world Watching her as she laughed at the hobbits or listened intently to each of them describe their home gave him a feeling of warm contentment
When Gimli said something about the wood elf, she glanced over at him and asked, "What exactly is a wood elf? Are there other types of elves: water elves and sky elves perhaps?" she said with a teasing tone in her voice He tried to think of how to explain it to her without going into a long history of the sundering of the elves and the differences between them.
Finally, he simply said, "Wood elves, at least those of my kin, dwell within the forests of Middle earth. We have a strong affinity with all growing things along with the ability to commune and converse with the trees and animals and nature itself."
She stared at him for a moment, and then her laughter rang forth. "So, you are telling me you talk to the trees?"
A smile quirked his lips as he answered, "Probably not in the manner you are thinking of, but all living things have their own voice. Surely, you have listened to the sound of the wind rustling in the trees or water as it trips over stones and have heard the mummer of words speaking to you."
She shook her head. "While it is true I have heard such sounds, they have never spoken to me. They are beautiful and pleasing to the ear, but there is no communication there."
"Ah," he said, "that is because you have not taken the time to truly listen. When we have time, I will help you hear their voices."
She looked at him doubtfully. " Well, I guess I am willing to try anything once."
"Actually, he went on to say, "although I was born and raised and count myself as kin to the Silvan elves, I have the blood of both Silvan and Sindar mixed into my blood." At her confused look he said, "Another lesson for another time. It will not, however, require sitting inside for hours when the sun is high and warm and the breeze is soft against our faces." He smiled down into her eyes as he said this, and sweetly he found her smiling back at him..
Grace had been surprised that she responded as she did to Legolas. He had taken her off guard when he looked into her eyes. His presence brought warmth and peace she did not understand.
She continued talking with whoever walked beside her, but whenever she began to ask questions about where they were going and exactly what was this quest they were all on, the conversation fell strangely quiet. They avoided her eyes and spoke of dangerous lands filled with evil creatures, but they never really answered her. After a while, she quit asking.
By the time they stopped for the night, she had talked with all of them for a while, and she found herself enthralled by the stories they told her. She almost felt as though she should be writing some of this down so she could remember it for later. They had certainly made up a rich history for themselves. She wondered how long they had been playing at this game. Grace's PhD consisted of multiple areas of study. It combined Anglo-Saxon legend with the literature, history, music and art that reflected the myths they represented. The stories these travelers told her enchanted her and quickened a curiosity within her to learn more about them. She had to stop at one point and remind herself that all of what they shared with her was conceived from their own minds. The stories were not real, although she half wished they were. She would continue to play their game with them, at least until she could find a way to escape.
After a brief dinner, she settled down on the cloak that Boromir provided for her. Her gaze caught on the bag she carried with her. Of course, she thought, how could I have forgotten. Glancing around, she noticed that no eyes were on her, so she opened her bag and pulled out her cell phone. There was no signal. She wasn't really surprised this far into the wilderness as it was unlikely that there would be one. Turning the phone off to conserve the battery, she planned to keep trying. She would find her path home one way or another.
The next few days went pretty much the same way; she made a point to be positive and to spend time with each member of the group. They began to accept her as one of them, although they never told her exactly where they were going. She noticed each night that they paid a little less attention to her when she left camp to take care of her private needs. The only one who always seemed to have his eyes on her was the elf. She realized that he would have to be absent when she decided to try to escape.
The next evening when they stopped for camp, Gandalf said they would spend two nights in this location. He wanted some time to ponder the route they would continue on, and he felt a long rest would be good for them all. Legolas returned from scouting the area and mentioned that there was a small lake just a short distance from their encampment. Thoughts of a bath filled Grace's mind, and she asked if it would be alright if she went and had a good wash. Aragorn hesitated, but seeing the longing in her eyes, finally agreed. Some of the members of the group donated clothes so she could wash the ones she was wearing. She had expressed her desire for a bath several times during their hike.
Aragorn led her to the lake, and after she stared pointedly at him, he left her there alone. The lake was crystal clear and not very large. The trees came almost up to the shore line, leaving only a few yards between them and the water. Expecting a chilly plunge, she was surprised at how warm the water was and she wondered if the lade was fed by some hot springs. After a good scrub, both of her body and her clothes, she felt almost normal again. Dressing herself in the clothes they gathered for her, she smiled ruefully. She looked like she had gone to a thrift store to shop and found nothing in her size. Gathering up her wet
things, she started to make her way back to the camp.
Halfway back, she found Gandalf waiting for her, perched on a rock and puffing his ever present pipe. "Come, sit down, Grace." Peering at her, he said, "You seem to being doing better."
"I was taught to always make the best of what I was given. You have all been kind to me, haven't hurt me and I suppose eventually I will find my way home."
Gandalf sighed, "So, you still do not believe what I told you?"
"Well", she said, "you have to admit it is pretty far fetched, but for the moment I am content."
"So. no plans to leave our company?" he asked.
She shrugged, "Where would I go? I have no idea where we are exactly, and even less idea where we are going, seeing as how no one seems to be interested in telling me exactly what is going on."
"And that is for all our safety. I have no doubt that eventually you will have to know, but I think it is best for you not to have to worry about it for a while." Standing, he looked her over, "I see that you have gained a change of clothing." Reaching out, he fingered the soft shirt she was wearing. "That looks like Frodo's," and gazing down at the pants that she had tied a rope around to keep up, "and surely those are Pippin's. Only the hobbits were willing to share with you?"
"Actually, I think they were the only ones whose clothes came even close to fitting me. I'm not picky, at least they are clean and comfortable, and it lets me wash my own things. Since we are staying here for two days, it will give my jeans and shirt time to dry."
Lifting his head, he sniffed the air, "Ah, I think that dinner is ready. Come, Grace, let us get some food. You look as though you could do with a good meal."
A/N To all who have reviewed, I thank you, and to those who have not I encourage you to do so. Reviews are the rich payment of all fan fiction authors we count them as treasure.