The Hobbit kept watching me, fear etched on his face.
"Hello Mr Hobbit" I said kindly holding out my hand, he took it cautiously and I helped him off Laer.
"What, may I ask are you doing on top of my horse" He looked guilty, I smiled kindly. The rest of his company burst through the bushes brandishing swords.
"Let 'im go or I'll 'ave you longshanks" I chuckled
My pack started forward to intercept them.
"Al, dar" (No, stay) I said holding a hand out towards them, my knives lying forgotten by the bolder I had lent against. I drew my sword out with my free hand, and the ranger brought his sword before his face in a defensive motion and began to attack me, I easily flicked his sword away, where it landed in the fork of two low branches, I held my sword to his throat.
"If you do not harm us, we will not harm you" I said before thrusting my sword back into its scabbard, turning I removed his sword from the tree, giving it a few good twirls before I handed it back to him "It's a good sword" I commented, "If you wish you can spend the night here, it is still six day's travel to Rivendell on foot."
The Ranger gave me a suspicious stare, I turned my back, crouching down and relighting the fire. Timidly the Hobbits sat in front of me, the blonde one began to unpack food, I stood and placed a hand on his shoulder, "There is no need, I have plenty for all" He just nodded and packed it away, I disappeared into the cave to find the rest of my meat. As a rule elves don't usually eat meat but, I wasn't exactly a normal elf.
Outside I could hear the hushed conversation that the travellers were having.
"Can we trust him?" Someone asked.
"We have no choice, don't worry Merry, I will stand guard tonight" I heard the Ranger tell the Hobbit that spoke. I slithered back into the light of the fire holding plates of food, slowly I dished them out, my hood still covering my face.
I must say the hobbits ate heartily and were extremely happy, sharing jokes and telling tales of the mischief they got into, I sat on a rock in the shadows throwing the occasional piece of meat at the hungry wolves, a rustle of leaves caught my attention and I saw Faron, Sash, Nokra and Lanfe sidling closer to the unsuspecting Hobbits, looking for morsels that they could snatch, I stood ushering them away
"Al rui faeg gaurhoth" (No hunt, bad wolves) I scolded
"Pedil edhellen?"(You speak elvish?) The Ranger asked I nodded
"It is expected. Sleep well, I will guard you, we leave for Rivendell at first light" I told them taking back my original position on the rock.
The Ranger did not sleep, he only pretended to, I smiled at his efforts and remembered the reason I was going to Rivendell
'A black raven landed on Laer's neck holding a piece of white paper in one of its claws, I took the paper and unfolded it
"Join me in Rivendell for a council three days from now, tell no one.
Lord Elrond"
It read "Ni 'lassui" (Thank you) I told the raven and it flew off'
I absentmindedly patted Isha's head smiling at her, waiting for the sun to rise.
"Up, up, up, rise and shine my dear Hobbits, off to Rivendell we go" I declared shaking the Hobbit's shoulders, and the Rangers, against all his efforts he slept and deeply to. I handed them a small bag of food to eat along the way before helping the two brunette Hobbits onto Laer's back, I handed the one in the front the reins.
"You do know how to ride a horse?" I asked receiving a nod from both of them, "Khila amin" (Follow me) I told Laer and the pony they had brought with them, pulling off some of the laden beasts baggage and distributing it among the other wolves before turning to the Ranger and the blonde Hobbit.
"Nokra, Faron" I commanded and the two wolves in question stepped forward, I turned to the Ranger and the stout blonde Hobbit "You two must ride upon these wolves, they need no guidance so hold on tight" I helped the blonde Hobbit onto Faron's back, showing him where to cling to, before commanding the wolves to follow.
Quickly deciding not to reveal my secret I mounted Isha, the only pale coloured wolf in the pack and she started to run towards Rivendell, the wolves, and the horses ran after us, packs bouncing on their backs.
At the entrance to the beautiful Elven city I dismounted and raised my hands in the air, "I come with Lord Elrond's blessing" I called. The dark haired elf nodded and gestured for me to pass, I mounted Isha again and she padded into the city. The whole ride my hood had somehow managed to stay up and my identity was still a secret.
Elves bustled around, treading on light feet, I growled to myself in annoyance, telling Laer to stay, I went to hunt with my pack, after nearly a thousand years of only the company of myself or the wolves I had come to hate busy places and in turn, people.
It was dark before I got back, and I think that I may have scared the life out of the guards at the gates, appearing out of the darkness with glowing eyes at my back. I ran in Lord Elrond on my way to the barn and he offered me a room, but I politely refused and followed the pack into the stables where I stayed on my last visit. I sighed, flopping down on the hay strewn ground, thuds sounding around me as they curled into their given spots, Isha on my left side and the Beta for the pack Rafel on my right, and surrounded by wolves and hay I drifted to sleep.
YOU ARE READING
In the Shadows I Stay
FanfictionIt has been over a thousand years since Elbereth was banished for some thing she didn't do, alone in the wilderness for that amount of time she managed to enter the company of a rare breed of creatures The Wolves of Hasidurir, as their protector she...
