I am very much trying to get this out quicker than I have been, but it is a struggle. I hope I can get some more dialogue going soon and I really can't wait to get to some more action scenes. I hope you like this chapter and please r&r, it makes me so happy to get feedback from readers.
Disclaimer:I do not own nor am I in anyway affiliated with the Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit
Any attempt that would be have been made at reconciliation by either Boromir or even Lilly was thwarted by Arwen's insistence that Lilly join her on a scouting expedition. Orcs had been seen on the borders of Rivendell and the whereabouts of the Black Riders were yet to be discovered. Other parties had been sent out the moment the council had ended, one of them including Aragorn, but had yet to return.
The true reasoning, Lilly was certain, was not Arwen wanting to spend time with her friend but rather had everything to do with Elrond making certain Lilly was prepared for her impending journey. Despite the underlying reasoning, Lilly was glad to be out of Rivendell if only for a short while.
November was already over a week through and it left Lilly frightened of how little time she had left in Rivendell. That place had become a second home to her and the thought of leaving saddened her.
Fear for her future also tinged her thoughts as she left through the gates of Rivendell with Arwen and a party of Elves all mounted on horseback. They were to spend a week patrolling the borders of Rivendell to look for any sign of orcs or other foul creatures. Lord Elrond had not been impressed when Lilly had described it as 'looking for clues.' Lilly was certain that they were being sent out more as a training exercise than an actual scouting party.
The time away from Rivendell cleared her mind and hardened her resolve. Middle Earth had a tranquility she wished to never be disturbed by the horrors of war.
The party road hard and Lilly knew their long rests were for her sake only as the Elves, including Arwen, never seemed to tire or wane in strength. Even the horses, great majestic beasts, never looked as if they needed to stop for more than just a few moments. While Lilly slept soundly whenever she could, Arwen and the others never seemed to close their eyes for more than a few moments. Lilly envied them.
Through the entire week, they saw only old signs of orc packs and none of the Riders. Thankful for the lack of true action, Lilly only fired her bow at the odd animal and makeshift targets, and only drew her sword to spar against the Elven warriors. They drilled her harder than Arwen had and were much more willing to go for 'fatal' strikes.
"Your instincts and reaction time have sharpened," One of the soldiers, Hádhon, remarked as he finished sparring with Lilly. She was laying on her front on the outskirts of the Elven camp where their mock fight had taken place. "Yeah…" Lilly breathed heavily and felt the deep set ache that had invaded her body.
The Elf sat down next to her and began caring for his sword. "Improved…okay." She continued her rough breathing, trying unsuccessfully to bring it under control.
"You won two whole bouts." He pointed out to her. The Elf-warrior's reminder made Lilly feel worse as they had fought more than twenty of the small clashes of swords the Elves called bouts.
"It would be difficult for anyone to truly defeat an experienced Elf in battle." The Captain and leader of the party, a grave-faced Elf called Dringol, reminded her as he approached the resting pair.
"You are much more likely to be facing Orcs," He spat the word. "Dirty, untrained filth using poorly forged steel. Their only advantage comes in at brute strength and numbers. And an uncaring for their own lives."
Lilly raised her head to look at the Elf standing over her. "Thank you so much for giving me so many new things to worry about." Hádhon laughed before being silenced by a look from his commander.
Lilly put her head back down on the ground and groaned loudly before finally rolling over rising into a seated position. These elves were more warrior than nay she had met before and though she admired their straightforward way of speaking, it could be daunting at times.
Arwen remained her close friend during their expedition and the two shared a tent, however Arwen never seemed to ever sleep in the same unconscious, tossing and turning way Lilly was prone to. Lilly had nearly snorted in disbelief and laughter when she had awoken in the middle of the night to find Arwen laying perfectly still in sleep, her eyes open making no sound and seeming just as graceful unconscious as she was in waking. Lilly had proceeded to do her best to snore louder and move around more in requite.
As close as ever, Lilly had advised her friend to keep Aragorn on a 'much shorter leash' when she had let slip that she very rarely actually met with the man to whom she was to be married. Arwen had laughed while Lilly grumbled about being completely serious.
The time spent with the scouting party went quickly for Lilly despite her sore muscles and constant exertion. She felt almost remorseful as they returned through the gates without any relevant information on the whereabouts of the Orcs.
Having truly not expected the group to have found anything as they had been sent out much later than the other parties, Lord Elrond welcomed them back with peaceful welcome. Lilly was happy to have a quiet and unobtrusive return. The lack of pomp in their return meant she could retire to her chamber to eat and bather and sleep in her soft featherbed.
Arwen seemed to have a similar idea which left Lilly to rest in much welcomed silence. Her maid, Rirosseth, had drawn a hot bath for her while another maid covered the windows in dark blue swaths of fabric. The added luxuries, Lilly was nearly certain, was because of her departure that was nearing in just over one month's time.
Even with the added coverings, Lilly still felt exposed as she sunk into the warm water. She had sent Rirosseth and the other maid out of the room, still comfortable with the idea of having someone helping her bathe.
She had scrubbed every bit of dirt and quite a bit of skin off by the time she was done while having also vigorously washed her hair and coated it in sweet-smelling oils. The soap and oil made her smell like a bouquet of flowers and made her sneeze repeatedly. Despite her request, the Elves seemed to be unable to procure anything that did not reek of flowers.
Sniffling, Lilly climbed out of the tub and began to dry off. She put on a sleeping shift and began working a linen towel through her hair. Happy to be alone for a short while longer, she sat at her small table and began to eat the meal of bread and fruit her maids had set out for her while simultaneously drying her long black hair. She thought that the length may be become bothersome when she set out with the Fellowship, however Arwen had blanched when she mentioned trimming her dark locks that reached the small of her back. Elves, as it were, did not cut their hair except in extenuating circumstance. The solution Arwen gave her was a complex array of braids that kept her hair back, though Lilly decided a simple French braid was enough.
The quiet rest Lilly was having was interrupted by the re-emergence of Rirosseth who, with little announcement, entered and ordered for the tub full of murky brown water to be taken away. Lilly was nearly asleep in her chair by the time Rirosseth had taken up a comb and began untangling and braiding her damp hair.
"The lords of Men were very upset with my Lord Elrond in your absence." Rirosseth began but quickly realised Lilly was fully asleep. With a soft sigh she finished the small braid she had been working on before coaxing her exhausted lady into bed.
Sleeping until noon, Lilly soon found, was a luxury that could only be repeated twice before someone, (namely Arwen), pulled her from her bed to join the world of the living. Her days returned to what they had been before, though her training with bow and sword changed from building skill to retaining it.
After her return, Lilly was also able to hear the latest gossip from Rirosseth who spoke of the malcontent that followed the remaining lords of Men. Those that had yet to return to their home countries fostered complaints with Lord Elrond and his allowance of a female member in the Fellowship. Their objections were not understood by the Elves who knew the strength of women to be equal to that of men nor were they understood by the Dwarf lords who, with so few females in their race, greatly respected any choices they made.
Lilly had very loudly voiced to Arwen and several others that she would be glad to discuss any of their concerns if these lords had the courage to say them to her face and not behind her back. The insult had prompted one of them, a sour-faced greybeard, to approach her. His self-righteous manner and discourteous speech halted at once when he saw Lilly, who was in the process of sparring against Hádhon.
The sight of Lilly with naked steel in her grip and a determined look in her eyes made him think twice about questioning her place. He had left the training grounds without any words of hello or goodbye in such a flurry it cause both Arwen and Hádhon to laugh heartily.
Rumour was soon spread that the young woman Oracle was a fierce warrior, trained by the Elves. Lilly found this absolutely ridiculous and slightly embarrassing, but did nothing to dissuade the rumours as they kept questioning lords away from her.
Time turned quickly and eventually the visiting Dwarves, Men, and Elves were gone, leaving none to truly protest against Lilly. Upon his return, Aragorn had taken council with Gandalf and agreed with whatever the reasons the wizard had for taking Lilly along with them, (though Lilly believed Arwen also held some sort of persuasion.)
Worries and fear clouded Lilly's thoughts as November faded and December passed much faster than she would have liked. She grew sombre from fear and from the absence she felt of her family. Arwen had noticed leaving Lilly to explain that the set day of the Fellowship's departure was also a holiday where she was from, a time for families to gather and gifts to be exchanged.
Lilly expressed several times to Arwen how thankful she was for her friendship though the Elf never seemed to know exactly how to respond. The Elves she had befriended had become a makeshift family to her and it saddened her to have to leave.
In the time before the departure of the Fellowship, Lilly was also able to spend time with Bilbo who introduced her to Frodo and the other Hobbits, who were all very much like their film counterparts though their small stature was much more apparent to her. Bilbo spent much of that time recanting tales from his large red book and Lilly was mesmerised by its words and illustrations, though she had read The Hobbit several times over.
These lighter times made her feelings when the day of departure dawned a muddle of excitement, fear, and nervousness all into one. Rirosseth had plaited her hair in a way Lilly was certain she would never be able to replicate and made certain she had all the necessary items in her pack.
"I am going to miss you," Lilly had said to her though the Elf maid had only smiled sadly and Lilly did not try again to make another attempt at goodbye. Elves seemed to carry a heavy aversion to extreme emotion.
For her departure, Lilly wore same sort of outfit she wore when training – leather boots and trousers, a dark green linen blouse with a leather overshirt, though she also wore heavier arm bracers and a hard leather bodice that the Elves considered to be light armour.
The sword and bow she had used while scouting were gifted to her by Lord Elrond and she wore them with pride. Both bow and blade were more functional than beautiful and had been used by others before her but she appreciated the gesture.
With her pack set with extra clothes, some toiletries and strips of cloth she knew to be for her 'time of the month', and whet stone and oil cloth for her sword, Lilly felt almost ready for an adventure. It'll be like camping… She had tried to convince herself but she always got caught on the fact that she would be fighting orcs and other horrid creatures.
For what she knew might have been the last time, Lilly looked about the spacious room she had lived in for many months. She felt tears sting her eyes, but blinked them away before any could escape and left to join the rest of the Fellowship.