The Days of Old (LOTR- Book One)

Chapter 6: Setting Out

Chapter 6: Setting Out

 I left Elrond''s study and trotted into the Hall of Fire where I thought I might be able to find some of the members of the Fellowship.

"...He doesn't even know what he's talking about." Legolas's voice echoed from around the corner in the elvish tongue, "He is only doing what he believes to be right," Aragorn responded back in elvish and jerked his head as he saw me round the corner into the Hall of Fire.

Aragorn and Legolas were sitting across from one another in front of the fire drinking mulled wine, Aragorn smiled up at me when he noticed me standing in the light of the fire reflected off my high pale cheeks. "Talking of Boromir are we?" I laughed and sat down in a chair close to the fire trying to warm myself from the cool night air that swept through the valley.

Legolas scoffed, "He doesn't know what is good for Middle Earth and what isn't. It is true that Gondor has been the bulwark against the forces from Mordor but that does not mean he knows all." He explained and looked over at Aragorn who was staring into the fire, "This is true," I agreed as I absentmindedly braided my hair.

"Do you believe Frodo can bear this burden?" I asked after a long silence, interrupting the crackling of the fire. "He is a strong hobbit," Aragorn smiled warmly almost removing the cold right out of me. "Stronger than most, almost like Bilbo!" He laughed as he pushed out of the chair and walked out of the hall.

"Do you know what road we will take?" I asked Legolas who sighed, "Gandalf is wise and he will choose our path wisely." He smiled as he stroked the golden etchings around the wine goblet. I looked down at my feet and smiled, "I'm going to turn in," I sighed as I pushed out of the chair and embraced the warmth of the fire before stepping outside. "You should do the same," I smiled before walking out.

I walked quickly up the stairs and towards my room, shutting the door tight behind me and pulling off the dress quickly and grabbing the light blue robe. I pulled the white duvet back and flopped down in the bed, feeling the soft and warm fabric that engulfed my body for all I knew it could be the last time I would feel this; I sighed and slowly closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

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I blinked rapidly as a pale light leaked into the room, the sun was just beginning to come over the horizon. I grumbled as I puffed out air and pushed out of the bed, a steady knock came from the door. I arched her eyebrows and tied her robe as she pulled open the door.

Elrond was standing in the threshold smiling at me and holding a box. I quickly moved out of the way to allow him into the room, he looked around slowly and his auburn eyes met my bright blue one. 

"I have been holding onto these to give to you when I believe that you were ready," He smiled and placed the box on her bed, opening it slowly with his long sleeves drooping onto the floor. I gasped as he pulled out a set of armor and a bow: the armor had a green garb with golden edges that had a circular design that fell to right above her knee underneath golden plates engraves with an even deeper golden that etched flowing designs into the plates. Brown leather leggings went down to the ankles and had a design that wrapped around my thigh then brown armor boots went up my calf with more elven engravings, there was also a deeper green cloak with a hood that partially wrapped around my neck like a scarf.

Elrond beamed as I held out my hand and traced the designs with my fingertips, "It is quite comfortable and gives you the ability to move quickly but still protects." He explained and lay it on the bed, I looked over at the beautiful recurve bow that lay beside it.

The bow was a deep brown and had an almost purple cast to it, it had a silver flower design that was set where the bow began to bend back and at the ends and the center of a bloom where the string came out and on the other side as well.

I picked up the bow and pulled back the string slowly, listening to the wood creak softly. "I cannot thank you enough!" I exclaimed and hugged him sincerely, "Do not thank me," Elrond smiled, "I wish you luck." He said as he walked out of the room. 

I quickly put on the armor that fit me perfectly and shook my shoulders as I tested it, it was very flexible and didn't hinder my movement in the least. I sheathed her daggers on a two-sided hilt on my left hip, grabbed my pack that I had prepared the day before and barged out of the room to the area they were leaving Rivendell at. 

Everyone but Aragorn were standing at the exit, speaking in a low tone; there was also most of the elves left in Rivendell standing near to say goodbye to everyone and wish them luck on the journey. Anairë looked around for Aragorn but there were no signs of him, there were no signs of Arwen either. 

I joined the others at Legolas's side who gave me a warm smile, only a few moments later Aragorn joined them along with Arwen, her eyes were red and puffy; Aragorn looked distant so I decided not push it.

"I want to wish you all luck and good fortune, you carry the fate of Middle Earth." Elrond waved goodbye as they walked slowly under the arch that led out of the House.

"Mordor, Gandalf, is it left or right?" Frodo looked at the split in the path, "Left." Gandalf said quickly, Anairë smiled as the group turned left following each other in silence out of the valley. I chuckled at the innocence of the hobbit as we turned left out of Rivendell and across the edge of the wild.

The sun was shining bright overhead but the air was cool and crisp as they traveled through the golden plains and through rocks and valleys. It was getting late in the morning when the hobbits started moaning about breakfast and how hungry they were feeling, I couldn't help but agree since I had overslept and missed breakfast but knew they didn't have time to stop now, they needed to get away from Rivendell.

Aragorn and Gandalf were speaking in hushed tones about the direction they needed to go. Boromir was watching Frodo rather closely as if he wanted to say something but didn't have the nerve, I didn't trust him.

 Late in the afternoon, just as the sun was starting to come down and evening was beginning they took a rest on stones that protruded out of the golden grass and was surrounded by snowy mountains that seemed to go on forever.

"We have traveled enough for now and this area has always been a safe area." Gandalf sighed and he slowly eased himself down on a rock and put a pipe in his mouth and began smoking and thinking as he often did.

"Merry! Pippen!" Boromir called to the two hobbits that seemed determined to travel with each other, "You need training with swords!" He smiled and unsheathed his sword. Merry and Pippen quickly attacked and knocked Boromir to his feet and began wrestling him. 

Sam was cooking supper and Frodo was sitting near Gandalf looking into the cloudless sky and breathing in the cool air that swept down from the high mountains. Aragorn was laughing at the wrestling hobbits and Boromir as he chomped on an apple while Legolas and I watched the area with keen eyes.

"I feel a sense of darkness, something hanging over us and this area." He sighed and turned towards me, I plopped down on a rock. "I feel it too, a sense of foreboding." I narrowed my eyes and jumped off the rock onto a higher perch. "What?" Legolas arched his eyebrows at me, "What is that?" I said loudly, alerting the others. 

"Just a wisp of cloud," Gimli waved his hand, "It's moving to fast, and against the wind." Boromir pushed off the ground and stared at the black cloud moving towards us, a small winged bird broke off from the rest of the group. "Crebain from Dunland!" Legolas called out, "Hide!" Aragorn yelled and quickly grabbed some things, Sam quickly put out the fire. Legolas pushed off the rock and grabbed my hand, pulling me under a rock that jutted out leaving room for them to hide.

The entire group held their breath as if their breathing would alert them of their intents. The birds swept by loudly with caws and the loud flapping of hundreds of wings and the sounds tapered off and the black cloud disappear in the distance.

 "Spies of Saruman!" Gandalf spat as he jumped out of his hiding place.

"We will take the path of Caradhras!" He turned away to reveal a mammoth snowy mountain that lay behind us.

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In the media section I put a picture of the armor I was describing(: