Kiera
"This area is secluded and not well known, and we should be safe here. We can sleep, fill our water packs, and bathe," said Voronwë.
"Thank Christ," she added, "I could use a bath."
"You may go first. I will watch the perimeter," said Voronwë. Tuor nodded and set his packs down to rest.
Once she reached the stream, she moved down, so they couldn't directly see her. Not caring that the water would be icy, she retrieved her towel, soap, shampoo, and conditioner from her bag along with some fresh clothes-she only had three packed for what was meant to be a weekend trip. She stripped off her old clothes and left them in a pile before stepping into the freezing stream. Quickly washing her body and hair, she was done a few minutes later. She hoped she didn't catch a cold because there was not any NyQuil in Middle Earth, and none of them had any medicine.
After, she toweled off and dressed swiftly in her warm clothes. She tried dipping her clothes in the water and rinsing them with body wash. Hopefully, once they dried, they wouldn't stink as bad. As she walked back to the boys, they were conversing in elvish. She needed to learn that if she was going to be there indefinitely. Like the previous night, she had rolled out the sleeping bag and blanket. It had been too cold to let her hair air dry, so she towel-dried it and laid out her wet clothes to dry.
Tuor had left to bathe as Voronwë broke off a piece of bread for her. She dug out her remaining food, giving him one granola bar. There was still a sandwich bag of nuts, so she split that into thirds and gave him some. She put some by Tuor's bag on a leaf with the bread and a granola bar. Only two bars were left, so she planned to share them over the next few days. Hopefully, they wouldn't go hungry with the small amount of extra food.
Tuor returned, and Voronwë left to bathe. Neither of them lingered long in the icy water. Sliding into her sleeping bag, she was desperate for some sleep.
Tuor spoke, "Voronwë will keep watch for most of the night, but he will wake me for a time so that he can rest. He needs less sleep than us, but we did not know if you could keep watch. The elves have sharp eyes and ears and can see in the dark better than humans. I am accustomed to keeping watch with my years as an outlaw. It is no burden if you cannot, but we thought to ask and let you know what we discussed."
"Thanks, it makes me feel better, as I can't speak elvish. I can't see in the dark, but if you or Voronwë ever get tired, feel free to wake me. I can stay up and watch the area and wake you if I see or hear anything. I am accustomed to smaller amounts of sleep. It might take me a few days to get us to this routine, but I'll be glad to help."
"Thank you, lady Keira. Your generosity is appreciated, and I thank you for the nuts and bar. If I get tired, I will wake you. Rest now, as we will leave at first light again."
She nodded and burrowed into her sleeping bag, turning until her body fit snugly into the cocoon of warmth. She pulled the blanket over herself, pushing the day pack and towel against her head as a makeshift pillow. Just as Voronwë returned to camp, she began to drift off into a peaceful sleep.
—-
The following day, Tuor shook her awake. As she blinked her eyes, she saw the sun starting to peak between the trees.
"We must leave very soon. We have a lot of ground to cover today."
Yawning, she nodded. With the full day of walking yesterday, she was exhausted and slept like a baby. Usually, it took her forever to fall asleep. She reached up to unwrap the towel and noticed her dry hair was a mess. Seeing as they were just walking the whole day, she grabbed her brush and hairband from her bag. She quickly threw it up into a ponytail with a few stray bangs hanging on the sides. After that, she rolled up the sleeping bag and blanket and packed them into the bag.
Voronwë and Tuor were speaking again in elvish as she approached, slinging the bag over her shoulders. Voronwë spoke first and said, "we must ration the bread, so we can't have any pieces for the morning. I filled our water packs but couldn't figure out how to open yours. We must be cautious today as we walk through the forest. I will have to watch and listen closely as many spies and evil creatures use these woods. It will take two full days to reach the other side. There is a lake where we will rest and fill our water again. We will have to be quiet for most of the day, though."
The day passed by. The forest was alive with animals and birds, but no other sound could be heard. They walked in silence, and Kiera had spent most of the morning looking around at the trees and nature to pass the time. It was not a bad hike, as the ground was mostly flat, and they hardly had to step over fallen trees. They took a break about midday and wolfed the food down. Kiera shared one of the last granola bars by breaking it into thirds. It gave them all a little taste rather than the elvish bread. In the afternoon, they kept moving quickly, especially with their bellies full.
It was dark when they stopped for the night in a small clearing. Voronwë didn't want to chance any creatures coming in the night, so he planned to stay up the whole night and keep watch. After eating dinner of bread, she fell asleep quickly.
Voronwë shook her awake in the morning. Tuor was just waking up as she was, but they had no breakfast. The three of them packed up immediately and left.
They kept the same pace as the day before; it was another dull day walking through the forest. A few hours after they started, Voronwë spotted a blackberry bush. Together they had cleaned off the bush as each of them got their fill. They hadn't gotten lucky again the rest of the day. It had taken the entire day to reach the other edge of the forest. The sun was low when she finally saw a break in the trees. Voronwë visibly exhaled as the tension in his shoulders faded. At the end of the tree line, there was a slight slope down to a large lake. The mountain range was on the far side of the lake, with more empty plains surrounding it.
Before they left the forest, they all stock up on leaves. Kiera was a bit shocked that some trees here produce such soft leaves, but she wouldn't question it or complain. Voronwë told them it would be some time before they see another forest again.
"We will camp by the edge of the lake. I will be able to see if anyone comes. We will start early tomorrow across the plains. Come this way," said Voronwë, and he drew them closer to the lake. As he led them down the slope, he continued, "I came to this place on my travels. It is called the pools of Ivrin. It is a beauty to behold, and I am glad that our paths cross it again."
The slope was scattered here and there with little trees. Yet, the closer they got to the lake, the worse it looked. Soon the trees turned to black ash, and the grass that had been green and lush before was now shriveled. When they reached the lake, Voronwë cried out in sadness.
"What happened here? Has the enemy reached this far to defile it? My heart is grieved. What once held a place in my warm place in my heart has turned to sorrow."
What was once a beautiful place now was destroyed. The trees that had not burned were blackened and hung with skeletons of naked, brittle dead branches. The ground around the lake was scorched, leaving the soil baked and cracked. Almost no grass grew beneath the trees, and what little did grow was slowly dying. Where a large waterfall had once poured over the ledge; was now dried up, and only a small creek remained. The lake bed was so shallow it was hardly distinguishable as a lake, more of a small dirty pond.
Voronwë looked across the area with a sad face. He murmured something in elvish that was filled with sorrow and longing. He started to turn away when he cried out again, "look, a man is there. In my grief, I did not see him until now."
Tuor and Kiera turned to look where Voronwë was staring. A tall man dressed in dark clothes was racing along the lake shore. He carried a large black blade that glinted in the sunlight. As he cursed out in anger, the man didn't spare them even a glance as he ran off into the distance.
Tuor wondered out loud, "I wonder who he was. I do not know of any man with a black blade. However, I am glad he passed us by, as he seemed filled with anger."
Voronwë agreed and said, "come, we will camp closer to the cliffside and what is left of the stream."
He had led them across the rugged terrain towards the tiny cliffside. Shattered trees and jagged stones hid a small flat area. They had access to the small stream, but the water appeared too putrid to bathe in, let alone drink.
"I will be glad to get to Gondolin. I don't know what really lies out there, but whatever destroyed this place must have been large," she said with a grimace.
"I hope we don't meet any of the enemy's servants," Tour replied. "I hope our luck holds. We are not prepared to battle an army of orcs or goblins. Let us pray to the Valar that we don't meet anything worse out here."
Like the night before, she ate and then settled into her bag. Unlike the previous nights, her feet were really starting to hurt. Even with good hiking boots, four days of non-stop walking would make anyone's feet ache. She hoped that tomorrow they wouldn't hurt worse. Tuor laid down as well next to her, but he fell asleep before she did. His soft snores echo around the cliffsides, making it difficult for her to find peace.
Voronwë came and sat by them both. He didn't say anything but then started to sing softly. Slowly, she focused on the soft song and sound of his voice as she drifted off into sleep.
—-
The following day, Voronwë woke her up early. He pressed into her shoulder with a gentle nudge and said quietly, "lady Keira, we must move soon. I see something in the distance moving fast. I want to be away from this place before their spies see us."
His words jolted her awake, and she rushed out of her bag. Tuor was stretching and moving the dirt with his feet where he slept. As she packed her bag, Voronwë did the same to the ground where she was lying, covering their tracks if anyone came this way. For the first time in days, Kiera pulled her phone out of her bag. The battery showed 35%, so she turned it off quickly. They didn't need that going off or making any noise that would attract attention. Shortly after, they were all ready to move. After making sure the campsite looked like it had been untouched, with only a few footprints in the mud that they could do nothing about, they set off in the direction of the lake. As they drew closer, their pace quickened. They were now heading in between a mountain and a plain. Unfortunately, they needed to cross the plain to get to the other side.
Voronwë pointed ahead as he said, "I want us to get a day or two further before crossing the plain. There is a large forest on the other side. We need to cross at the right spot so the forest is behind us. Evil creatures lurk in there and use it to ambush travelers across the plains. I hope the group that is behind us will travel into the plain and turn into the forest. Or else we will have to hurry and cross in front of them and hope they don't see us," explained Voronwë.
"Let us hurry then and put some distance between them and us. I do not like having an enemy so close behind us," stated Tuor.
After Tuor finished speaking, they sped up their pace, running for most of the morning. Her feet were in pain, but she didn't want to slow down and risk the group catching up to them. Tuor and Voronwë alternated between fast-paced running and slower walking. By midday, her energy was draining fast, and it was by far the worst day on this journey yet. At least Voronwë provided some good news, saying that it was working; either the group had fallen behind, or they had turned off into the plain.
They chose to maintain the same speed in the afternoon, just to be certain. They were all in agreement that they should keep going to give themselves enough distance in case they were still behind, still being pursued. Once it got too dark, they would have to stop for the night, and if the group came, they would have to leave quickly.
By the time the sun had gone down, Voronwë spotted a large boulder and smaller rock formation that provided good shelter for them to set up camp for the night. It was pitch black by the time they reached it. Everyone was exhausted, especially Voronwë. After the bread for dinner, Kiera rolled her sleeping bag and collapsed in it. Voronwë climbed to the top of the tallest boulder to keep watch for the night. She was out in minutes.
—-
Kiera was awoken by the rising sun. Its rays streamed over the ridge, flooding the plains with light and hitting her in the face. Tuor was perched on the boulder while Voronwë was sleeping against it. His eyes were open but unfocused as he slept. She almost gasped out loud as she forgot that elves slept with their eyes open.
She worked hard to pack without making too much noise and waking up Voronwë, who deserved to take his rest. Once her bag was ready, Tuor motioned for her to join him. Despite her aching muscles, she managed to make the climb up the boulder. When she reached him, Tuor spoke in a low voice, "Voronwë spied that group earlier this morning. They turned off a while back and headed across the plains. He watched them until they passed beyond his sight. We will keep going north for another day before we cross. We will keep going north for another day before we cross. Voronwë woke me up early this morning to take watch. We will let him sleep for a little while longer."
Kiera agreed. "He deserves his sleep for keeping watch every night. I'm thankful for his elf eyes and ears and glad that he is guiding us. My feet are killing me today, so I hope we can walk for part of it."
Tuor nodded, and they both settled into a peaceful quiet. As the sun crept up above the plains, it illuminated a breathtaking scenery. Everywhere she looked, the vibrant lands were more full of life than she remembered from her old world. Sitting on the rock watching the sunrise was a welcome respite from her current fast pace, allowing her for once to appreciate the new world.
About an hour later, Tuor stretched and told her to wake Voronwë. After she carefully slithered off the rock, she walked over to where he was sleeping. Kiera shook his shoulder until he woke.
Voronwë yawned and exclaimed brightly, "it seems we have come full circle of you waking me up now."
Kiera's lips curved into a gentle smile, "I'm glad you finally had the rest you'd been needing, but Tuor says we have to go now."
Voronwë had risen and stretched while yawning, looking well-rested and prepared for the coming day. Oh, to be an elf. They shared a smile as they approached Tuor. After packing their bags, they embarked on another day of hiking.
After a day of silence, Kiera started talking immediately as they walk. "Tuor told me about the group turning off. I hope we will get ahead of them, but how long does it take to cross the plains?"
"If we can cross where I want us to, it should only take three days. We made up an extra day of our journey by jogging. We should reach the crossing point before midday." Voronwë furrowed his brow as he added, "we will have to decide if we will cross or rest and sleep there."
"I would like to cross today," Tour interjected. "We should rest and wait a day with that group behind us. If we don't see any signs of them, at least we will be well-rested in case we run into trouble across the plains. I would hate to try to outrun orcs or goblins while exhausted."
"I agree. I would rather we be well rested in case we need to run. Is there a stream by the crossing? I wouldn't mind bathing again, but if not, I guess I could live with it for a few more days," she asked.
"Yes, three streams merge into one. That is our landmark for the crossing. I, too, would also enjoy a bath," laughed Voronwë.
All of them chuckled as they enjoyed a slower, leisurely pace that day. The three of them made small talk and had light-hearted conversations. Voronwë told them about some histories of elves as he gave an overview of the events since his kin left Valinor. He admitted that he didn't know all the details, but they got a general idea. His eyes lit up as he told them all about Gondolin and some of his favorite places in the city.
"I hope Turgon accepts you both into the city. I would love to show you around and introduce you to the different lords. We have many elves from different areas, but no humans anymore. I think most would welcome you into the city."
They were close to the crossing, so they didn't bother stopping for lunch. As the sun rose high into the sky, they encountered three streams spread out across the plains, all merging into one. The three streams were broad but didn't look very deep. They walked along the streams until they came closer to the mountain. Needing to cross all three, it was easier to cross at the shallowest points.
Tuor guided them as they waded across the first stream. The water was cold, though not as frigid as the one they bathed themselves in days before. The water rose to her mid-thigh, yet only up to their knees. After they crossed, she was completely drenched. They set up camp near the banks of the last stream, which had a wide open area, making bathing increasingly difficult. Kiera sat down and hastily yanked off her wet boots. She wrung them out and dug through her pack for her sandals. Although it was too chilly to wear them without any additional layers, she pulled on her socks to keep her warm.
"I'd like to bathe, but it seems pretty open. I can go further up the stream, but I don't want to make you uncomfortable. I know you need to watch the surrounding area," Kiera asked.
"We won't look unless we need to. We will face the other direction to give you privacy if you give us the same. The water is quite cold, so I don't think any of us will be too long," offered Voronwë, with Tuor nodding in agreement.
Gathering her belongings, she strolled down the stream until she was far enough away. They both turned their backs to her as she grabbed the remaining set of clean clothes. Armed with a new bra, underwear, socks, shirt, sweater, and leggings, she made her way over to the water's edge. This was her last clean set; however, her other clothes had dried, but they smell a little.
Again, the water was icy, so she washed up as quickly as possible and got out. She dried off at a fast pace, eager to put on some comforting, clean clothes. As they still had the rest of the afternoon, she gave her dirty clothes a thorough wash in the river, adding extra soap and ringing out each item well. As she brushed her hair, she left it to air dry since they had plenty of time on their hands.
When she rejoined the boys, they were back to speaking in elvish. She tossed her bag to the ground and spread out her sopping wet clothes and boots to dry. Tuor left to go bathe while she sat beside Voronwë and faced away from the lake's edge.
"I was going to ask you to teach me some elvish, but I would prefer to get to know you and Tuor for the time being. I'd also rather learn more about this world than the language, but maybe I can learn once we get to Gondolin."
"I would be honored to teach you my language, but I agree with you for now. We have many scholars in the city who are better teachers than I am. I would certainly help you when the time comes," he said pleasantly.
After a bit of conversation, Tuor came back, and Voronwë went off to bathe. Tuor looked much better now and not so dirty. However, his tunic was still wet, and she wondered if it was the only one he has.
He saw her looking and said, "I washed it as best as I could. I don't want to arrive at Gondolin, and they turn me away for the smell," he joked.
"Not sure what they expect when we have been traveling for many days. We can't all be elves and look perfect all the time," she laughed.
Tuor chuckled. "I always wondered how elves always looked so clean and presentable. Not a hair out of place or disheveled."
"You humans can look like us as well. You just have to spend all of your short years perfecting your looks. We can spend years practicing and maintaining our posture and hair," Voronwë said as he walked toward them.
Kiera laughed lightly and said, "It's not fair. When I first met you, I thought you looked too beautiful to be real. That's why I thought it was all a dream. Then I realized this was real; I was jealous that your hair is prettier than mine."
Tuor burst out laughing at this, and she soon joined in. Voronwë beamed a radiant smile and asked, "so you think I'm beautiful, hmm?"
It was her turn to blush, but she just replied smugly, "yes, but are there any ugly elves?"
Tuor shook his head with a smirk while Voronwë pondered the question. He must have been racking his brain to find an elf that he met that was ugly. Finally, he said, "well, there is the lord Salgant who looks, unlike any other elf, for he is squat and round of face. I wouldn't call him ugly, though. So no, no ugly elves that I have met. I have met elves that were ugly in the soul, so there are some dark elves."
Thinking about a few of the tales Kiera remembered, she nodded in agreement. For the rest of the afternoon, they continued talking and joking. It was a pleasant day; they enjoyed relaxing and lounging in the sun. They had their bread for dinner, and she split the last granola bar. "For luck," she added as she handed the remaining pieces.
Soon it is time for bed. It is hard for her to fall asleep, so Voronwë sang a soft melody, which put her to sleep.
Kiera stirred in the half-light of dawn, heavy with the muffled sound of her companions' heated whispers. She rolled over and tried to make out the words, only catching snippets of the conversation between Tuor and Voronwë. Reluctantly, she crawled out from her cocoon of sleeping bag, blinking at the sun's first rays peeking over the horizon.
She yawned, feeling more well-rested than she had in days. Her feet weren't aching as much, for which she was grateful. It took a little longer to pack up with all her clothes. Thankfully, they smelled clean and were only a little wrinkled, which is the best she was going to get.
After she was packed and with her bag on her shoulders, she walked over to see what they were arguing about. They switched from elvish back to her language. "Tuor wishes for us to make haste across the plains. I do not wish to draw attention by running or reaching the other side exhausted. Once we reach the northern edge of the Amon Obel forest, we must be on our guard. The area is filled with many enemy spies," Voronwë informed her.
"I don't want that either," stated Tuor. "Yet, a storm is coming. Autumn is leaving, and winter is here. I do not want us to be lost across the plains during a storm. If we can make it to the other side sooner, we can rest during the storm."
Kiera glanced up at the sky, noticing the dark clouds beginning to form. She suggested, "I think you are both right. We should jog and walk as fast as we can. We need to make it across before the storm, but we don't want to be caught by the enemy. If we can make it across the plains sooner and let the storm pass us over, that would be best."
They all looked at one another and agreed. Voronwë said, "we only have enough bread for a few more days. Tuor has some dried meat, but we should save that for when we are closer to the mountain. Meat is scarce around the mountains of Gondolin. Perhaps we should hunt some game after we reach the north edge of Amon Obel forest."
He paused, and both of them nodded in agreement. Then he went on to explain the rest of their journey. "After we reach the northern forest, we will have to cross the river Sirion at the ford of Brithiach. It will be two more days to the mountain's edge from there. The roads are rocky and filled with many hills. Once we reach the mountain's edge, we will have to find the hidden gate. Let us hope Ulmo's blessing will help us as strong magic guards the area."
Voronwë took the lead as they set off on their long path across the plains. The day before had provided them all with plenty of rest, so they kept up a steady pace. They ran for a while, then walked for a while, stopping only a few times for a short break.
They arrived at their first landmark of a river in the afternoon. The river was deep, but the current wasn't that strong. The three of them helped each other across, as Kiera wasn't as tall as them. The water was just as cold as the rest, and all their boots and leggings were soaked. Part of her shirt was also, and it became uncomfortable to walk in after.
As they reached the midpoint of another river in the afternoon, they found themselves making better progress than expected and decided to take a break and fill their water bottles. As they resumed their journey, a storm had started to brew in the distance, picking up speed until it was right on their heels by sundown. Voronwe chose a tall hill for their camp, but it was risky. The plains exposed them, but the tall grass covered part of them if they lay down.
As they stood on the hill, discussing their campsite, she asked, "should I set up my tent? It might blend in with the surroundings as it is green. I will protect us from the rain and snow. I'd rather stay dry throughout the night, but if not, I suppose I will manage."
"It will be difficult for me to see in the rain and snow, so I would prefer we stay dry and out of the elements. I can still hear if anything approaches," stated Voronwë.
She grabbed the tent bag and placed it in a patch of tall grass, hoping it would be well hidden. The grass only rose up to the middle of the tent, but the rain and green hue would help camouflage it from afar.
Within a few minutes, the shelter was up. Kiera showed them how to open the zipper, and she went in first to change into dry clothes. Afterward, she laid out her sleeping bag and put her packs near the wall to block some wind. Once she was done, Tuor went in next to change and lay his stuff out. As he was changing, she left for a bathroom break and hoped she wouldn't have to go later in the evening when it began to storm. Voronwë was the last to change, and then they all settled inside the tent.
It is a smaller two-person tent, so it was a tight fit, but they managed. Voronwë sat next to the doorway, and she offered him one of her blankets. The wind had picked up, and it was beginning to get quite cold. He accepted it and draped it over himself. Tuor also took one but mainly curled up in the cloak that Ulmo had given him. Voronwë broke off a small piece of bread for each of them, and they ate quietly. It had been a long day, and they were all exhausted. Snuggling into the sleeping bag, she laid the remaining blanket over her for added warmth. Tuor was asleep first, but eventually, she drifted off as well.
A loud whistle of wind woke her up in the middle of the night. The rain, hail, and sleet came pounding against the tent as the wind howled. Voronwë was asleep, but Tuor was sitting up by the door. He whispered, "it has only been a few hours, but I could not sleep. I let Voronwë rest."
She nodded and glanced over at him, sleeping, the blanket tucked around his body. It was slightly too small for his height, but at least it was warm. She took the extra blanket off of her and put it on top of him, then nestled back into her sleeping bag. But sleep was hard to come by that night.
She rummaged in her bag for her phone and switched it on. 1:23 am glowed from the screen, so she dimmed the brightness to zero. Most of the phone's functions didn't work, but she could still enjoy a few comforts from home. Her heart heaved with sadness as she swiped through the photos of her family and friends. It had started to sink in that she would never see them again. Tears rolled from her eyes, and swiftly she swished them away with her hands. Tuor had definitely seen, but he didn't say anything. After a while, she couldn't look anymore, so she opened up her books. Reading always helped her sleep, and she had a small collection of her favorite novels.
Cracking open the first Harry Potter book, she started to read. As she made her way past the halfway point, her eyelids felt heavy, and her body demanded rest. Turning off her phone, she snuggled into her sleeping bag and let herself drift off to sleep.
When she stirred awake, a bit groggy, she realized she had slept through the rest of the night. Bright sunlight was pouring through the tent, and Voronwë had changed places with Tuor and was sitting near the entrance. As she sat up, she breathed out deeply, and her breath was visible as she shivered. Voronwë saw and smiled as she moved closer to him. Once she was sitting next to him, he draped the blankets over them.
"Thank you for the extra blanket. While elves don't usually feel the cold, it is nice to be wrapped in a blanket. I switched with Tuor so he could sleep again. We will let him rest a little while longer. He also told me you were crying last night. Are you alright?" he whispered.
"You're welcome. You can keep the blanket, as I am sure it will get colder now. My sleeping bag is enough. It finally hit me last night that I will probably never see my family or friends again. Once we get to Gondolin, I will let myself finally grieve all that I have lost."
He reached out and took one of her hands in his. He said, "I'm sorry you miss your family and friends. While I miss my mother and father, I know I will see them again someday in Valinor. I cannot begin to imagine how much it hurts that you might not ever see your family again. I do not know where humans go when they leave this world, but I hope you will be reunited with your kin someday. I promise you that I will always be your friend and be there for you. I will gladly listen if you want to talk about them."
A few tears streamed down her face as he spoke, and he held her hand tightly in his own grasp in order to provide comfort. She leaned in towards him and tenderly kissed him on the cheek.
A small blush crept across Voronwë's face as she pulled away. It was nice to have a friend again, and even though they had just met, he and Tuor were incredibly kind. "Thank you. That means a lot to me. I hope you know you can come to me with anything as well. You and Tuor are my best friends here, and I would be lost and most likely dead without you."
A quiet, gentle laugh escaped his lips before he nodded. Snuggling closer to him, she felt warmth spread through her body from the blanket and from being so close to him. His thumb traced circles on her hand as he hummed a soft melody. She didn't notice how much time had passed until Tuor awoke.
Tuor rolled over and saw them together and winked. Blushing, she glanced at Voronwë to see he was doing the same. Tuor said, "I'm happy that Voronwë can give you some comfort. I didn't have any experience with crying women and didn't know what to do. I hope you are feeling better today."
"I'm missing my family and friends. Voronwë and I talked about it this morning while you were sleeping. I will be alright, in time. I'm happy to have you two as friends. I would be lost without you.'
They grinned at one another before Tuor got up to stretch. It was time to start packing, so she stepped toward her bag. The other two followed suit. It didn't take long, and they were ready to leave the tent within a few minutes.
Voronwë opened the door, and she glimpsed the first sign of morning frost on the ground. The rain had turned into sleet and overnight had frozen into snow, leaving a light blanket of powdery snow on the ground. Once they were all out, she quickly folded the tent and pulled up the stakes. After it was packed, Tuor grabbed it and slung it across his back easily.
They started walking, ready to begin another day. The ground was slick from the snow, so they moved a little slower. Thankfully, they made good time yesterday. Voronwë looked around the plains and said, "We will reach the old south road by midday. We will have to hurry across the area as many people use the road. After that, we must put a good distance between us and the road. We should reach the forest's edge by late afternoon, but we should be cautious, as this area is treacherous."
Keeping a leisurely pace all morning, the sun rose overhead against their backs. She expected a little awkwardness between them, but there wasn't. They had some small conversations as they walked, and Tuor asked what her phone did and what she was doing last night. Happy to have something to talk about to pass the time, she explained what her phone did as best as she could. She promised to show them the photos, music, and books once they reached Gondolin. The battery was close to dead anyway, and she didn't want to carry the solar charger all day.
The small talk turned into getting to know her companions more. Tuor didn't have many hobbies, living his life as an outlaw, but he enjoyed long walks and listening to tales and stories. He also enjoyed sparring with a sword. She was useless at that, and Voronwë didn't like to fight for sport.
Voronwë said he loved singing and listening to poetry and music. He also enjoyed walks and just being around nature. His greatest passion was sailing and fishing, but there wouldn't be a chance for either in Gondolin. While he was good with a sword and crafting jewelry, he had no passion for either.
She told them about her other hobbies and how she liked to read, write, and sometimes draw. While she was a terrible artist, she hoped she would improve with time. Another passion she talked about was helping her dad around the house with his projects, and she told them about a few of the things they made together. She admitted to enjoying music and singing, although she hated singing for people.
"Will you sing a song for me? I am curious to hear what music sounds like in your world," Voronwë asked with a slight, hesitant smile.
Hesitating a bit, she finally answered, "just one. My grandmother loved this song, and we used to sing it together."
"I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Once she finished, they both clapped loudly. Voronwë wiped a small tear from his eye, "what a beautiful song. You have a beautiful voice, and I'm happy you shared a song with us. I don't know what all the words mean, but it was quite soothing. I can sing you a song from my home if you would like to hear it?"
Nodding enthusiastically, Voronwë started to sing. The song was slow and light, but it was in elvish. Even though she had no idea what he was saying, it was beautiful nonetheless. After, Tuor offered to sing, but he joked that he wasn't very good and would prefer not to. They didn't make him, but they spent the rest of the afternoon listening to Voronwë sing and hum.
By late afternoon, they made out a massive wooded area up ahead, stretching out for miles. As they neared the northern edge, the horizon was filled with the silhouette of a long mountain range. They hastened their steps and reached the forest's border just before nightfall.
Voronwë said they should camp just inside the forest edge but go no further. He would keep watch all night and be on alert. Tuor gave everyone meat, and Voronwë broke off small pieces of bread. It wasn't as filling as before, but it was better than being hungry if they had to fight or run in the night. Eating quickly, there was no stream to wash, so they settled in for the night and slept.