Chapter 7
As we walked down further into the valley I could hear the voices of the elves. Singing and it made me smile. I myself started to sing their songs.
O! What are you doing,
And where are you going?
Your ponies need shoeing!
The river is flowing!
O! tra-la-la-lally
Here down in the valley!
This of course was not the full song, for as I saw the look on Thorin's face I stopped. We came to a staircase and here we were met by another elf. Gandalf smiled and went forward.
"Lindir!"
"Mae govannen Mithrandir." He said.
"I have come to see Elrond."
"My Lord Elrond is not here." Lindir replied.
"Where is he?"
Before he could answer there was a horn call and I turned to see horses approaching. The dwarves immediately huddled together and thrust poor Bilbo in the middle. Elves rode upon the horses. One of them came forward to Gandalf.
"Mithrandir."
"Mae Govannen Lord Elrond." Gandalf said.
They embraced and smiled and then he looked to me.
"Ireth?" he asked.
I gave him a confused look and shook my head.
"i eneth nín Tawariell." I said.
He bowed and then looked to me once again.
"~Forgive me. You are one of the Dúnedain yes?~"
I nodded.
"~You have a very close resemblance to one I knew long ago. I know not what became of her.~"
I did not answer. He looked back to Gandalf.
"Never before has the enemy come so close to our borders. Someone or something must have led them here."
"Yes well I believe that was us."
Elrond looked at the dwarves and Thorin walked forward.
"Thorin Oakenshield….welcome to Rivendell."
"I do not believe we have met."
"You have the look of your grandfather Thror. I knew him when he ruled under the Mountain."
My eyes widened and I slowly looked at Thorin.
"Indeed." was all he said.
He looked back upon the dwarves.
"~I can see you are weary. I offer you food and drink if you will…~"
"What does he say?! Does he offer us insult?!" Gloin asked.
"No Master Gloin he is offering you food." Gandalf said in a frustrated tone.
"Oh….well then ins that case lead on."
I did not follow. I was frozen where I stood.
Who is Ireth? And why would Elrond call me by such a name?
I wandered through Imladris. It was the most beautiful place I had ever been. I found a quiet place and sat down. I knew not that the dwarves, Bilbo, Gandalf and Elrond could see me. Could this woman Elrond had thought me to be….could she possibly be my mother? No! It was impossible! And yet I still wondered who she could have been.
As night fell I heard a loud crash. I drew a dagger and quickly went towards it. I put it away as I saw it was only Bombur. The table he had been sitting on had broken. The dwarves were laughing hard and I could not help but smile. I leaned against a pillar and shook my head.
"Ah Tawariell! Come join us!" Kili called.
Normally I would have respectfully declined, but I felt as though I could use a laugh. I smiled a little and sat down beside Fili and Kili. Bofur looked at me and tossed me a sausage. I smiled and ate for I now realized I was quite hungry. After a while I stood up and left. As I walked I ran into Gandalf, Bilbo, Balin, Thorin and Elrond. I said nothing and continued on. Someone followed me and I knew it was not an elf or Bilbo. I looked over my shoulder at Thorin.
"Why are you following me?" I questioned.
"Who is this woman Ireth?"
I clenched my fists and looked away.
"If I knew…..I…"
"I do not seek to anger you."
I looked back at him.
"Why is it you care so much?"
"Why is it you always seek solitude?" he countered.
"I have always been alone! My parents abandoned me on the edge of the Forest of Greenwood when I was a baby! No one knew why and for all these years I cared not! Now I no longer know if I care. I am no sure of anything anymore." I said.
I turned away and tried to calm myself.
"It was not my intent to anger you or bring back painful memories. Forgive me."
"The fault is not yours. They did not want me, so I always extended the same courtesy to them. I did not seek them out, nor did I try to find out who they were and why they left me. The elves raised me and made sure I was well cared for, and then when they learned I was one of the Dúnedain they thought it best I go back to my people. My friend Eradan taught me everything he could and he would always tell me stories of his travels. None of the other rangers could tell me who my parents were. My name is Tawariell…it means girl of the forest, for that is who I was. I did not have parents so I was the child of the forest." I said.
He remained silent but I knew he did not leave. After a few more moments of silence he spoke.
"You are not alone. The Rangers cared for you. You are part of this company." He said.
I slowly looked at him. He did not smile his remained expressionless. We stood there for a long while, staring back at one another. As the sun began to rise he looked away.
"We leave. I do not wish to remain here."
I nodded and we woke the others and left Imladris. As we walked up the mountain trail I looked back one last time.
"Namarie." I whispered.
*I am called Tawariell.