Dedication: For laziweg, I wish I could reply to you, but thank you for your comments!


CHAPTER NINE

Tauriel awoke to the now familiar thunk of arrow meeting wood. Her room was at the eastern most part of the castle, nearest to the archery area. But that was far from accurately describing it. She could hear the sounds, but the grounds were still too far away for her to watch. It was an irony, she realized, being able to hear them everyday, but knowing she wouldn't be able to train like she had in Mirkwood. After moments of indulging in the comfortable heat the sheets provided her, she sprang down to the floor, and quickly garbed herself with brown breeches and a sweater. She then hurried to put on leather boots, before running out her room. She was to meet her mother by the gardens that morning, and was warned to dress for riding.

"Tauriel," Marendis acknowldeged her.

Her mother was busy crouching down on rows of rows of brown pots. They were herbs the Rivendell decided to raise. Most of them had medicinal properties, and it was her mother who took charge of raising them. She had told her the night before that the plants were the reason she was not able to attend the feast. An apprentice reported that Rivendell's supplies of Athelas had been withering in quick succession. They had heard about the plant's healing properties but were ignorant of how to wield the plant. And before her mother could properly dissect them, they had wilted.

"Are these the plants?" she asked her mother, standing beside her to peer at the now brown-leafed plants.

"Indeed," her mother nodded, straightening. Even in full height, Tauriel was taller than her. It was a trivial matter she had very much prided on when she was younger.

"Where can I find them?" she asked.

Her mother wiped the soil in her hands to a cloth hanging by the table at their right. At the same table, she laid out a small map of the immediate vicinity. Nothing in the map was unfamiliar to her. Often, she and Arwen would right outside of Rivendell, despite her mother and Lord Elrond's disapproval.

"The Athelas grows very sparsely, but I have heard word that it is found here," she pointed her finger at a forest by the village of Bree. "We have observed that they proliferate very quickly, but they grow individually and not in patches. It will be difficult looking for them in the forest."

Tauriel nodded, soaking in the map.

"Do you remember what they look like?" her mother asked.

"Yes," she answered, she could see clearly the clump of little green leaves, scattered all throughout with white flowers, like stars that dotted the night sky. She had been called to the greenhouses the day they were brought by an elf from Lothlorien.

"Good," Malendis folded the map after Tauriel was sure that her memory of the paths and forests did not deceive her. "You should break your fast and leave quickly. Your companions are waiting for you at the hall."

Tauriel blinked. She had thought she would ride out alone, as she had always done whenever her mother sent her on errands like this. "I was unaware that I would be with company," she said.

"It was a hasty decision," Malendis agreed, "But the young prince chanced to see the withered herbs this morning, and he asked to come along."

Prince? "Legolas?" she asked.

"Yes," her mother finally lifted her attention from one of the pots she was busily tending to. Tauriel did not miss the sly smirk in her face. "I thought it wouldn't be a bother, seeing as you two have become friends."

Tauriel rose a brow at her tone, but decided not to inquire. Her mother often teased her to the elves of Rivendell. "He is indeed a good friend," she commented instead. But she berated herself when she saw her mother's smile grow. "Of course, I will be glad for the company," she smiled. "It was just unusual, as I have grown used to travelling alone."

Upon her words, Malendis' smile disappeared and she sighed as she neared her and took her hand. "I also thought it would be better, so if anything happens in the way, there will be someone with knowledge of battle in your company."

Tauriel could all but wince. It was another reminder of her powerlessness in battle. "But I have always gone in these trips alone," she asked, gripping her mother's hand.

"Yes, but then, there were no... unusual occurrences," Malendis frowned.

A flash of the incoming orcs flashed through her mind and Tauriel replied with a nod.

"Be careful," her mother kissed her lightly on the cheek, before tending back to her business.

Tauriel stayed only to watch her for a few more moments before heading directly to the hall, eager to break her fast. When she entered, it was all but empty except for a group of three talking quietly while spooning their morning soup.

"Tauriel!" Arwen rose to greet her.

"Good morning," she answered back, sending a gaze to the two other elves still seated at the table, whose eyes were now focused on her. Her gaze immediately darted to Legolas—he looked the more excited of the three.

"Good morning," Arwen gestured to the seat beside her. "Has Malendis told you?"

"That I have the honor of having you three join my adventures? Yes, of course," she smiled, placing a few fruits on her plate.

"I have heard of the Athelas," Legolas mused, eyes trained on her. "However, Aegnir and I have not had the pleasure of seeing it with our own eyes."

Aegnir nodded in agreement. "The recent gloom of Mirkwood seems to suffocate the delicate conditions on which the plant needs to grow."

"It is indeed a sensitive plant," Arwen answered, when she noticed Tauriel busy with her food. "Even with the conditions of Rivendell, the Athelas died."

The conversation about the herb continued until they finished their breakfast. They headed out the hall while Legolas debated with Aegnir on how the Athelas would be used to cure various wounds. However, even they quieted down as they neared the four steeds awaiting them by the gate. Tauriel approached them, but Legolas called her name before she could ride one.

"What's wrong?" she whispered, when they reached a distance from the horses.

"I thought you might need these," he handed her a delicately carved bow and a set of arrows.

She stared at the items, wanting so badly to take them from him. "But I have never needed them before," she hesitated.

He smiled before taking her palms and placing the bow on them. "It is never wrong to be prepared. Besides, I had them especially made for you," he smiled at her surprised stare. "It was to be a parting gift, but it seems you have need of it now," he said, and before she could say another word, he had already walked back towards the horse. She stayed a moment, wordless and unsure. But when she looked down at the weapon, her breath hitched. It was beautiful. It was mainly green, with a brown grip-the colors of Legolas' people. In the limbs were carvings of what looked like feathers.

She stood looking at the bow, before smiling and finally following after him.

"Are we all ready?" Legolas asked, from atop a white horse. His back was straight, and his head held high, very much like the prince he was.

They all nodded, and with his gesture, flew past the gates and outside of Rivendell.


As she had anticipated, there were no interruptions on their ride to Bree. They had travelled quickly and silently. She had suspected the two Mirkwood elves were too busy admiring the landscape to even utter a word. The only sound that broke through the almost tuneful sound of the horses hooves were she and Arwen's voices. She had always loved riding with Arwen, they had spent many a day riding just like they did now, with Arwen always leading. She was a swift rider.

It was dark when they reached their destination. She heard the town of Bree before she caught sight of it. It was the clanging of what seemed like a hundred pots and pans that gave the town away.

"Bree," she heard Legolas breathe from beside her.

"Indeed," Arwen answered, and with a trot, led the way to the small town.

They replenished their supplies at an Inn called the Prancing Pony. Tauriel had never been inside it before—in fact, she had never stepped into Bree before. But Aegnir insisted they needed to see the "local sightings". So far, that had only meant dusty tables and drunk creatures. Besides, he had said, searching for the Athelas in the dark of the night would bear them no fruit. They decided to wait until the next morning.

From their entrance to the village to the moment they had finished their supper, they had witnessed four brawls. She was inclined to believe that the inhabitants of Bree had a penchant for... physical exertions. No harm came to their party, however. They reached their bedrooms unscathed.

They awoke early the following morning, and somehow, it did not surprise Tauriel that Bree was much more quiet during the day. They dined on bread and tea, before finally setting out to their task.

They secured their horses to a grazing area at the border of the forest before stepping into the shade of the trees. There were too many obstructions on the ground, and bringing the horses inside would only cost them more time. "What does it look like?" Aegnir whispered, when they had stepped inside the vast cover of trees.

Before Tauriel answered, Legolas spoke. "They are clumps of green leaves, showered with white flowers throughout," he smiled at the inquisitive look she gave him. "Your mother told me about them when I visited her," he said.

She nodded in understanding. "They are very much unlike these," she gestured at all the other greeneries around them. "They do not need exquisite designs to be noticed."

Arwen and Aegnir nodded. "Then we should begin our search," he said, before stepping to the left, his eyes concentrated on the ground beneath his feet.

Minutes passed, and then an hour. Tauriel was aware of the rising heat in the air, and of the light that moved through the crevices of the leaves. But she did not let her mind linger on the time, instead all her focused was on finding the herb that would be their pass to go home.

It was a rustle in the leaves that made them all straighten and look up. Tauriel frowned, and she saw in the corner of her eyes that the three did the same. They did not hear any footsteps.

It remained silent for a while, before there was more rustling. It—or they—were getting closer. Before she could react, Legolas and Aegnir had their bows out and aimed. "Who's there?" Legolas called out, his voice unwavering. Tauriel gripped the wood of her bow and slowly drew it out. Arwen stayed as still as a statue.

The approaching figure did not answer, and instead, it walked nearer. She could hear it's footsteps clearly now, and knew for certain that it was walking alone. Two feet.

It padded closer.

Two heavy feet.

When the figure finally emerged from the trailing vines and overgrown bushes, they all stood in silence. Tauriel knew, that like her, the others were unsure of how to react. Finally, Arwen took a step forward, gesturing to Legolas and Aegnir. "There are no need for your bows, my friends," she smiled as she walked closer to the visitor.

He was small, and he barely reached Tauriel's chest. Even when Arwen bent down, she could see that he barely levelled with her eyes. Tauriel looked at the creature curiously, even while withdrawing her bow and arrow, she could not look away. It was smiling up at then, grinning, more like. He had brown, curly hair that looked like it could even house a bird's eggs. It's cheeks were pink, as if he had been running for hours. The notion did not seem unlikely. It was wearing a white long sleeved top, paired with a brown jumpsuit. And his feet—Tauriel tilted her head in wonder, he was not wearing any shoes, and his large toes were clear for her to see. With the size of his feet—she was certain they were bigger than her own—it was a wonder he had such silent steps.

Unlike the other hobbits she had seen in Bree, this one had a look of awe in his face, as if he had seen Valinor. She paused to reflect on his face, he was very young. Only about thirty or fourty years of age.

"You're elves!" he finally said, tearing his gaze from Arwen to look at all of them.

Arwen smiled. "Indeed, young one," she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "What is your name?"

"Bilbo Baggins," he grinned. "Of the Shire."

END OF CHAPTER


A/N: I have now finally finalized (whatever) the draft for this story. This will lead into The Hobbit Universe at its later chapters. I hoped Bilbo would be hint enough ;)

Reply to Guest reviewer: I used to update once every two weeks, but now I'll be updating every week. Or else it might take me forever to finish this story. :)

Please review guys? :( I've been getting fewer reviews lately and it's making me sad. *tears

Love,

Vee