Disclaimer: I don't own LotR

Notes: Thanks for the reviews! Sorry it's taken my a while to update.

Chapter Eighteen

Day Four Hundred and Sixteen

I had almost forgotten about the hobbits-being-here thing.

I went to the little antechamber Bilba spent much time in, working on his book, to ask him to try a new mushroom dish I made, only to find him drinking tea with another hobbit.

"Oh, sorry- I didn't mean to intrude..." I said, panicking.

"If that is a mushroom dish I see, it is not intrusion at all!" Bilba said happily, then he switched to Westron. "Candes, this is Kalimac Brandagamba, a relative. Kali, this is Candes. She is staying here until such time as her betrothed, a Dúnedain, has made the necessary arrangements for her to o up to Arnor."

Kali- who I have figured out is Merry, by the way, smiled at me, but he clearly thought it was odd that I, a human, was here.

"Ruinir let me have a go at some mushrooms, and I thought I might bring some to you," I said, setting the dish down on a small table.

"Candes, have a seat! Kali, Candes spent some time in Bree, at... what inn was it again?"

"I don't know its name, but it was near the well with the green roof and the cart where that girl sells the flowers," I said, then I turned to Kali, "Do you know it?"

"I think so; but say, how did you get from Bree to here? I did not know any humans but Strider were around. And, I mean no offense by this, you don;t look as if you are from Bree."

he is rather matter-of-fact. Not to say he isn't extremely polite and likeable, because he is, he is just also very reasonable and doesn't talk around issues so much, from what I can tell.

"I am not, I admit. I don;t know exactly how I ended up there; I believe I am from Rohan, but I cannot recall much, just snippets. Gorvon, my betrothed, found me wandering in the woods. He did not want to bring me directly here, so he left me in the innkeepers care- say, Kali, if you ever stay in Bree, d not stay at that inn. That woman has slaves, not employees- but Gorvon returned and brought me here, hoping to shed some light on my situation."

Bilba had given me a very odd look during this speech. But it passed.

Once we finished the mushrooms, Kali excused himself to go stay with his friend Maura (Frodo). That's when Bilba brought up the topic.

"I know your story is false." he said it so casually the for a moment I thought he had commented on the blueness of the sky, "Oh, don't fret," he went on, "I will not press you for answers, if Elrond and Mithrandir trust you than who am I not to? I just thought you should know. And excellent mushroom's, by the way. Very savory."

He went on drinking his tea and I just sort of gaped at him.

Day Four Hundred and Sixteen, Later

I ran into Aragorn just now.

"You knew." was all he said at first.

"Yes, I did know. You know I knew."

"Yes, but I was never completely certain you knew. Now I know you knew."

"I just said that."

"I know. I said it again because now I know I knew."

"Ah! This conversation is too confusing to have in Sindarin! I don't know who knows I knew what anymore!"

He laughed.

"How have you been, Candes?"

"Oh, very good, until a few days ago. I had a birthday, I got engaged- oh, I am engaged to Gorvon now, by the way. I suppose it only makes sense. I could never marry someone who was not a Dúnedain. I would always think to myself they will never be as great as the Dúnedain, because the rangers of Arnor are, like, the best thing ever. Well, I suppose I could marry Gorvon no matter what race he was, because he is Gorvon and really what more do I need than that? But I suppose if he wasn't a ranger I never would have met him, so perhaps-"

"You are babbling."

I frown.

"I know. I am hoping that if I keep talking I won't need to think too much."

He smiled sadly.

"Some degree of foresight is always good, but I do not envy you, Candes. But to be honest, I am a bit reassured by the fact that you have chosen not to tell us anything of what is to come. Perhaps you should be, too."

And then he walked off.

I swear, people in Middle Earth and their dramatic exits after saying profound things. Is there a class on that?

Day Four Hundred and Seventeen

Three days until the council of Elrond.

I told Mithrandir what Bilba said to me and he nodded.

"I suppose he is rather observant, for a Hobbit."

Whenever Mithrandir is around, I can't help but think that The Valar and Eru exist. It makes me think. I probably should have gone to church more.

Day Four Hundred and Eighteen

Two days.

Day Four Hundred and Nineteen

It's tomorrow. Dear lord, it's tomorrow.

0

Please, please, please review!

Reviews, especially on chapter like this, literally make my day.