The IRE of Winter

[ 5.2 ]

The Hobbit Qoute

"I am the friend of bears and the guest of eagles. I am Ringwinner and Luckwearer; and I am Barrel-rider." - BILBO

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She smiled and walked gracefully near the edge, 'How young are you child?' her voice was music, a sweet melody. For a moment, her words were wind passing by until she turned and gazed at me.

'I am twenty and one,' I murmured. She looked away, her eyes were fixed at the distance, her hands fell down her side. 'I am sorry for rambling around. I should go back and wait for Legolas.' I motioned to leave. I waited for her response expecting she would talk to me more, I've waited for this time to come. But she stood unmoving and I decided to walk away feeling trampled.

'There is power in you, Safirah,' she whispered. Her voice froze my feet, she knew my name. 'Do not fear the unknown.'

I paused and turned to her but she was gone. I flinched, have I been dreaming? One moment I saw her standing right there, and now she has disappeared. I looked around and found noone except the guards marching in and out of the gates. Stunned, I stood in silence at the middle of the small stone bridge connecting the gazebo and the courtyard, clearing my mind out of confusion.

'I told you to stay, not linger anywhere you like,' Legolas came with the same unhappy look. This elf must have a deep deep trouble, he can hardly cast a smile on his face when I'm around.

'I did not break a rule, I simply bent it,' and I walked to meet him. It was getting dark, but I could still his gray eyes staring angry at me. 'Where is Aramis? And the others? I'm not used to keep my mouth shut for a long time.'

'I have noticed. Follow me.'

I followed him to the hallway, then down to the longhouse that seemed to be the storage room for their food and wine. The stairs were carved out of stone with elvish patterns on the floor. The stone bridges were narrow, some doesn't have railings, one slip and one will surely meet death. I chased his back without saying a word, as he was, and I kept three paces behind him.

'Do not stroll around this place, human, you are not a welcomed guest. Should you need anything, asked the guard nearest to you. Do not talk to anyone unless you are spoken to. Understood?'

We climbed a spiral stairs to what seemed to be a tower. The second floor had many rooms, painted in white and brown, elven art carved on wooden doors. I hesitated, it looked like a prison, empty and cold. 'Why do you hate me so much?' I found myself asking.

We stopped right in front of a half opened door, and his eyes met mine. 'Do you really wish to know?'

'I guess I know,' I murmured, and I lowered my head recalling the tale Aramis told me. He was disgusted of me, of me being a vaurg.

'Aramis and Rod will be occupying the room next to yours, Gimli insisted to get the other room.' He pushed the door and we entered.

It was a small room, a single sized bed was near the narrow glass window. A small table stood beside the bed with candles to light the room. I decided to rest my sored body on the bed, soft and warm fabric covered it. I terribly mistook this place, it was not a prison, instead, a humble guesthouse.