A/N: Well hello readers, I finally updated (note the word finally). This is the chapter that I know a lot of you have been waiting for (other than hte actually quest and the council and all that). THEY ARE FINALLY ALL BACK, YAY!
Disclaimer: Please don't sue me, I only own the Ocs
Chapter Twenty-Three – CAT FIGHT!
Kels POV
I sat curled up beneath a large tree, Aragorn's thick woollen cloak wrapped around my shivering form. The remaining hobbits sat huddled around the small fire that Sam had made, mourning the loss of Seph and Frodo.
Seph…
We didn't even know if she was alive. I knew that Frodo would survive but what of my sister? Sobbing gently, I turned away from the fire and the slumped figure of Aragorn. I could not help but be jealous at Seph's little talk with him. They were friends... but what about me?
"Milady?" I jumped slightly and looked up to see Glorfindel looking down at me, his golden hair glinting in the fire light. I turned away so that he could not see my tearstained face but his long fingers caught my chin and made me look at him.
"Lady Kelly. What ails you?"
Stared at him blankly through bleary eyes, I sighed and rubbed the tears away on the back of my hand.
"I don't know where Seph is," I muttered gently and looked down at the damp earth beneath my feet.
"I would not have allowed her to go if I did not think that she would be able to handle herself. Trust me, I have seen a lot." I giggled gently through my tears and a smile tugged at the corner of my lips. I looked up at him in thanks as he moved to sit beside me, gracefully perching on the wet rock. I could see Aragorn looking at me out of the corner of my eye, his face was still set in the same glum expression but he appeared to have gotten gloomier. Turning my head back to face Glorfindel, I asked him the question that had been plaguing my mind since he had first arrived.
"How do you know us?"
At that precise moment, horses burst through the trees. I leapt up, drawing my sword quickly but my attack was stopped by Glorfindel's hand like a vice on my arm, preventing me from moving. Aragorn's grey mood had vanished and a large open smile had spread across his face.
"Glorfindel!" called a voice and a blonde elleth leapt down from the horse and ran towards him, throwing her arms around his neck. She was tall, just a little shorter than he and she had grassy green eyes with patches of brown...
Wait! I recognise those eyes!
I froze and quickly turned my head to look at the other companions. Two identical ellons with long ebony hair and silvery eyes, sitting beside a shorter elleth who had the same dark hair but a rounder face and golden eyes.
"You have got to be kidding me," I muttered, the gash on the back of my head beginning to throb with a terrible pain again as my mind processed what it was seeing. The elleths finally turned to look at me and I saw their mouths open slightly in shock.
"Zut alors!" I exclaimed before tumbling over backwards as I was knocked down by Diana, her usual composure thrown to the wind as she hugged me tightly.
"Qui êtes-vous, et qu'avez-vous fait avec Diana? Who are you and what have you done with Diana?" She began to laugh and looked over at Fin, gesturing her over. She shuffled forward awkwardly and stopped a few feet away from me. I knew she would not be happy with us, especially Seph, after what had happened.
"Fin..." But I was cut off as she launched herself forward and added herself to the dog pile.
We stayed like that for a few minutes, just laughing as we shared each other's company. However, I eventually sat up, dusting myself off, and the others did the same.
"Seph arrived safely," Di spat out and I nodded, heaving a huge sigh of relief. "She had a hobbit with her..." she added, clearly hoping for answers. Seeing this I gave a half smile and turned to the fire where three expectant faces were staring up at me.
"You three!" I called to the hobbits. "Come and meet mes soeurs! My sisters!" They stood immediately and ran over, hair messy and clothes dirty with dirt smudged across their childlike features.
"Fin, Di, these are our little brothers. This is Sam, Merry and Pippin," I said gesturing to each one. "And the hobbit that you saw earlier was Frodo." They froze and their mouths began to open as the situation suddenly dawned on the both.
I smiled and made my way over to the fire where I sat down on a log, the hobbits on either side of me.
"Now why don't you tell me why you are still on middle earth?" They carefully sat down opposite me as they began to tell us about the energy needed to get home. The ellons all just stared warily; it was clearly something they had heard before. I then told them of our trip to the Shire and various stories of our time there, the hobbits adding information when needed. They all stared at me in surprise and keen interest. Though I never looked in his direction I could feel Aragorn watching me and I shifted - uncomfortable under his gaze. Fin began to shake as she listened and she turned away.
"Fin," I whispered, touching her arm lightly. She looked up at me, eyes sparkling with tears.
"It's just… So much has happened since we last met. You are so different and part of me feels that it will never be the same again. You never came to see us." I gave her a slight smile and threw my arm around her shoulders.
"Fin, we've grown, we've changed, but we are still the same people that you knew before, and FYI we thought you had gone back home so we couldn't see the point in visiting you of you weren't there." She smiled at me in thanks before standing.
"Well it is time to get moving, we want to get back in good time and I still need to see Seph. I will ride on my horse, Glorfindel will take that chestnut horse there," she said, gesturing to Thor with one hand. "Diana ride with Roh." Di let out an audible groan. "Dan, you get the hobbits and Kelly will ride with Estel." My eyes widened dramatically and I gestured to her subtly with one hand, practically begging her but she just winked and leapt up onto her horse, paying no attention to my silent cursing as I asked myself why I had never taken up riding. I watched in mild amusement as Di sat awkwardly behind whom I guessed was Elrohir and Elladan was squashed with three hobbits.
"Little one." I looked up to see Aragorn on the last horse, staring down at me, one hand extended. Sighing in defeat, the smile dropping from my face, I took his hand and he lifted me up onto the horse. He placed me behind him and I gently wrapped my arms around his torso to prevent myself from falling off. Warmth radiated off him and I struggled not to snuggle up, my own body cold and wet as it was. I whistled lightly and Bill came trotting up beside us nickering lightly as he patterned along at our heels. The ride was long and exceedingly awkward, Aragorn and I did not speak at all throughout the entire journey, much to everyone else's amusement, I could see Fin snorting at me as I tried to look anywhere except the ranger in front of me. It's not like we had had an argument but think about it, this is my childhood crush and I am forced to wrap my arms around his midsection, even though we are strictly friends, perhaps not even that. The horse had just reached the smooth path leading to the city when he finally turned his head to look at me.
"Are you alright?" I glared back at him and turned away, annoyed at the rather pointless question.
"I will be when we find Seph."
"What have I done to offend you?"
"You have not offended me; I am just in a rather sour mood and worried for my brothers safety." He turned back to look at the road as the horse clopped into the courtyard. Elrond, an easily recognisable figure, stood waiting for us.
"Follow me," he said, turning and disappearing into the building. I leapt off the horse, followed quickly by everyone else and we ran down the corridors after Elrond. The place was a labyrinth of corridors and turns and I knew that I would not be able to find my way around without a guide. Finally, we reached a straight section of corridor, there was only one door and a figure sat slumped on a chair outside. Elrond slowly walked up to the figure and shook their shoulder.
"Wake, we have visitors." Their head shot up to reveal a pair of cobalt eyes and a tanned face. A grin spread across Seph's face as she jumped up and wrapped her arms around my neck, the hobbits hugging her waist. We stood there embracing for several moments before we pulled back. Seph turned to the door and opened it, allowing us to enter. I went in with the hobbits, Seph, Di and Fin who was actively avoiding Seph. Lying on the bed by the wall was a thin, pale figure.
"Frodo!" cried Sam, running forward and placing himself on the stool by Frodo's bedside. The door clicked shut and Pip and Merry joined Sam by Frodo, ignoring the rest of us. Seph looked over at Fin who was staring out of the window, away from Seph. The tension in the air was tangible as Seph walked towards me and removed the quarterstaff from my back. She turned back and gave a slight cough, causing Fin and Di to snap to attention.
"I know you are angry with me, and I don't expect forgiveness..." she sighed gently and drew the rapier from its scabbard. "But would you please accept these as a truce, I don't this want to get in the way of everyone else. They are the weapons of animal spirits, given to us by Tom Bombadil at the barrow downs." She extended at them forward and Diana took the deer staff without question but Fin stood for a moment, staring at the sword. Suddenly she lunged forward, took the sword and there was a split second as she brought her hand up before bringing it back down across Seph's cheeks, causing Seph to flinch.
"That is for leaving us," she said glaring, her face pulled into a frown as she watched the cheek she had hit turn an angry shade of red. Seph stared back, eyes wide in surprise but they slowly thinned to slits as she returned Fin's harsh gaze, the battle for dominance filled the whole room with a thick, overpowering silence.
They stood, continually locked in this battle of wills, something Seph was rather good at, for the next ten minutes. Eventually, Elrond came in and had to hide his laughter as he shooed us out of the room and into the corridor so he could check on Frodo's wounds. Seph and Fin continued their death stares until Seph decided to settle it the old fashioned way. They both tumbled to the floor as they threw kicks and punches, attempting to get the other in a headlock. Finna had obviously had more training, her movements smooth and calculated but Seph had the advantage of speed and actual experience in fighting (wolves in the old wood and various other creatures, not to mention the nazgul *shiver*). The men that stood beside us watched in shock as the previously calm elleths fought in the middle of the hallway. Eventually, they both dropped to the ground exhausted and lay there heads still turned away from each other as Fin fiddled with the handle of her new sword, impressed with the craftsmanship and clearly wondering why Seph had really given it to her. Elrond exited the room, glancing unsurprised at the two of them before beckoning them with one finger. They quickly got up, dusting themselves off, and Seph grabbed my hand, dragging me after her as we hurried through the corridors. Fin and Di strode at our sides, new weapons strapped onto their belts as we arrived at a large, ornately carved door which led into the large, warm and homey room that I presumed was Elrond's study. A fire crackled merrily in the hearth and a large desk surrounded by plush chairs sat at the other end. A discarded chess set sat on the edge and various papers were neatly stacked.
Elrond sat himself in the large wooden chair at the head of the desk and gestures for us to be seated. A warm smile played on his lips as he watched Seph mindlessly translating one of the letters that sat on his desk.
Elrond gave a slight cough, causing all of our heads to snap to attention.
"Well," began Elrond, his lips curving up into a small smile. "I have decided that I will add you to my family as well." Seph's head snapped up and her eyes widened slightly, along with Fin's.
"What?" they both exclaimed, presuming that they had misheard.
"But ada!"
"Finna dear, don't lie. You forgave her years ago, you told me yourself. You have a close bond already, to a sisterly level and it only seems fair that I offer them the same treatment that I offered you."
"I am not sure that you completely understand Elrond; I abandoned them. They have every to remain angry at me, hate me even…" she trailed off and stared at the perfectly clean green carpet beneath our feet, trying to find some sort of imperfection. A sigh was heard and I turned to the owner.
"No Seph, I don't like to admit it but I did you years ago, I can never stay angry with you for long. I missed you terribly and I cloaked all of my grief with anger in the hopes that it would make it better." Seph looked up at her, teary eyed. The two simply stared at each other for several long moments, which seemed to drag out into an eternity until, finally, Seph threw her arms around the taller blonde female. Fin tensed but slowly relaxed, returning the gesture.
"I'm sorry," Seph whispered, "I acted rashly and I should have thought it through."
"Do not apologise, I am the sorry one. You have all right to act rashly, I insulted you in all the ways I know upset you. Who knows, maybe fate wanted us to go our separate ways."
"Well, that is all settled then." We snapped back to reality and turned to Elrond. "You are now ladies of Rivendell, my 'adopted' daughters and may introduce yourselves as such. I hope you do not mind having a slightly larger family than the little group you had before," he said, referring to the hobbits, "and I am willing to be a father to the two of you as I have to these two rascals." At the word father, Seph's eyes began to water again and she threw her strong arms around Elrond's neck.
"Thank you ada..." she whispered, she looked like a small child again, wrapped in Elrond's arms as he welcomed the newest addition to his family. Feeling left out I got up and scuttled over, squeezing in and giggling as Fin and Diana joined us.
Eventually we all drew back and Elrond smiled at us, wiping Seph's eyes.
"I will need to introduce you to the twins, can you go and get them?" he asked the other two who nodded and promptly left. Elrond turned to us again, slightly more serious.
"I have no doubt that you will want to continue your journey with your brothers, but for your safety I would like you to have some training."
"I am good at shooting..." Seph said.
"I have no doubt you are but I would like to continue your lessons. You will have sword and knife lessons with the twins, Glorfindel will teach you a range of other weapons and I would like you to have some academic tutoring with my friend and companion Erestor. You will have shooting lessons when a suitable tutor arrives."
"You are taking the role of dad really seriously." I said, cocking my head to one side. He laughed slightly and sighed.
"I enjoy helping you and with the journey you are about to make it is necessary." I suddenly had a strange, overwhelming feeling that he wasn't just talking about the trip to Mordor.
"There is more to you than the four of you know, I wish for you to stay safe and to help you on you way."
The atmosphere was broken by a pair of unruly twins running in and lifting us up.
"Yay! New sisters!" yelled one.
"Apparently these two are a lot more fun!"
"Yeah! I heard that Seph is a trickster!"
"Stop talking about me like I'm not god damn here!" Seph cried out, playfully whacking their heads. "Or I will get you back."
A/N: That reaction might have been slightly OOC, I don't know but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. Our next canon character will make a brief appearance in the next chapter so stay tuned!