The Fire Rises in the East

Chapter 2 Journeys are Hard!

{Foreword}

I just wanted to thank you guys for being so patient about the slow updates.

They are so rare because I've been so busy lately.

{Foreword end}

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue.

Don't tell me, that I can't rhyme.

"Is it much further Gandalf?" Sam whined.

"I said that we were still a way yet the last five hundred times you asked... and we are still a way away... if you catch my drift." Gandalf huffed.

"No, Mister, Gandalf sir, I don't," Sam said, eyes knit as if deep in thought trying to understand what Gandalf had said.

As Frodo walked he looked to the treetops and admired the beautiful colours and patterns on the leaves. Suddenly, Gandalf swung around and mounted his horse, "I'll meet you two at the Inn of the Prancing Pony."

"Where are you going?!?" Frodo cried.

"I am going to see the head of my order, he is both wise and powerful... Don't worry Frodo, he'll know what to do." Gandalf said hurriedly and then turned and galloped off into the cold dew-filled morn.

Frodo frowned then turned briskly and said, "Come on Sam, the day isn't getting any younger!"

{Meanwhile}

Thalia looked to her right and shuddered, the drop was sickening, "It is too late to go back. Focus, Thalia!" Thalia shivered.

Abruptly, rain started pouring down in buckets and thunder began roaring. "Great," Thalia muttered. "It just keeps on getting worse." Oh, Thalia, you're starting to sound like your father! Oh, bother.

Thalia struggled against the wind and rain for hours until finally, she saw a cave entrance. "Yes!" Thalia shouted triumphantly. As she reached out her hand to grab the rock at the cave entrance, a swift blast of wind tossed Thalia off her feet. A scream escaped her mouth. Thalia watched in horror as she got flung off the edge and started falling into the darkness.

{Sometime later}

Thalia's eyes flashed open and a piercing cry forced its way out. Pain rippled through her body as she tried to move her arm. After ten minutes of steadying her breathing, she forced herself to get up, even with the pain burning in her leg. As she strained her ears to hear to see if the wind was still howling above, Thalia grimaced, "Great, no wind. Now I have no idea how long I was out... And my horse is gone... ARGHH!"

Checking both her arm and leg she noted that they were badly bruised but luckily, not broken.

Increasingly, Thalia became aware of her surroundings and noticed that she was on a ledge, about ten feet below the path. As she grimaced for the second time in five minutes she tried to think of a plan. Thalia's planning session finished rather abruptly due to Orcish voices, "...I don't see why we should patrol this path!" The first orc said.

"Yeeeah!" Squeaked the second orc.

"Because the master told us to!" The third orc growled.

"But, why? We never used to!" The first orc countered.

"You heard the master! He says that The Dark One told him to, perhaps..." The third orc replied. Their voices faded, as they walked out of earshot. The Dark One? This is worse than I thought! Thalia turned her head to more pressing matters, like getting off a ledge. After close examination, she noticed a series of handholds in the rock face and started pulling herself up. Once back on the path Thalia resolved to travel more silently and carefully this time.

After three hours of leg-killing-steep ascent, Thalia finally reached the top and began descending. After two more hours of walking and crossing rivers, she lifted her eyes and saw a gratifying sight; Rivendell in all its glory. Thalia smiled as she rushed toward the city.

{Time skip brought to you by Thalia bathing and eating}

"Ah, Thalia," Elrond said as Lindir ushered a refreshed Thalia into Elrond's study. "So good of you to come."

Thalia rolled her eyes at his formalities, remembering how little he liked her family. "Thank you, my Lord Elrond," Thalia said mustering a little dignity. "Now, I heard some orcs talking on my way here."

"Oh?" Elrond asked.

"Yes, they were patrolling the High Pass, which if I am not mistaken, is unusual. Also, they said that 'The Dark One' made their master to start the patrols." Thalia remembered.

"That... That is troubling." Elrond frowned. "You had better get some rest after your... most unfortunate fall."

"I will. Your hospitality is most generous, Lord Elrond," Thalia managed a smile that never reached her eyes.

"Anytime my dear," Elrond said with a tone that showed he was far away.

On her way to her quarters, Thalia stopped to sit on a bench overlooking the rest of Rivendell. She smiled as she took in the breath-taking scenery. She watched as the sun lowered it's head behind the mountains, casting its final beautiful rays against the trees and white towers of Rivendell. Her attention was captivated by the water from the multiple rivers rushing off toward the waterfall. As the last of the sun's rays disappear, Thalia noticed a single rider, carrying a small bundle, galloping towards Rivendell...