Black and White

Chapter 4: Rivendell

(948 words)

"Clear!" Olive's body jolted, electricity coursing through her chest, she felt lifeless and weak, unable move her eyes as she stared up into the dark night sky, small white flakes lightly floating down to stick to her eyelashes and cheeks, melting on contact.

"Clear!" that voice again... 

"Vitals are growing steady..!"

"Olive!"

"Olive!"

Hands grasped onto the young woman's shoulders, shaking her.

"Olive!" 

Her body jerked up, eyes flying open. Strider knelt above her his hands on her shoulders. She stared up at him wide eyed and trembling violently as his hands moved to lightly cup her face.

"Are you alright?" he asked, worry creasing between his brows. 

"What happened?" She asked, feeling a strange unease sparking through her veins.

"You... were disappearing..." His warm breath fanned across her face as she stared up at him with an unfocused look, 'What? disappear?' She thought to herself completely confused. Strider slowly pulled his hands away from her face leaned back a bit with a light dismissive sigh, though he watched her warily as she looked up towards the still dark sky.

"I had a nightmare..." She mumbled, propping herself up onto her elbows. The fire was still flickering, but was quite a bit smaller then before. All three of the hobbits were asleep, curled up beneath their blankets.

"What time is it?" she asked, sitting up properly just as Strider sat directly to her left.

"An hour or so til sunrise." He replied, peering into her face trying to catch her gaze, in which she completely avoided by looking towards the dark trees on her right, and running fingers through her dirty locks of dark brown hair. "What happened Olive?" He asked in a hushed tone. Resting his arms on top of his bent knees.

"I don't know..." She huffed, tucking her own knees up to her chest. "I heard voices... I think... I was dying.."

Olive wrapped her arms around herself and shivered, remembering the feeling of electricity coursing through her body, it felt so real. She closed her eyes and breathed out through her nose.

"Strider?" She paused opening her eyes, "have you ever lost someone very close to you...?" when she looked over at the man, he seemed to hesitate in answering, his stormy eyes flickering over to her own. "A very long time ago." He murmured, his tone suggesting that he wasn't fond of talking about it.

The sound of hooves hitting the ground heavily approached, before the silllhouette of three horses and one rider was visible in the shadows of the trees. By this time Strider had woken up the hobbits and they all stood with their swords drawn.

"Estel, termáre- torne, ni was sent bime héru Elrond(Estel, stand down, I was sent by lord Elrond.)" a male voice spoke out from the shadows, in a language Olive had never heard before.

"Larrel," Strider sighed, and lowered his sword, "did Arwen care- -yes -esse lú?(Did Arwen get there in time?)"

The stranger urged the horse closer, gently tugging the other horses with him. "Yes. Túl emme must nór- ana Imladris. (Yes. We must ride to Rivendel.)" The man Strider called 'Larrel' said, looking at them all carefully, eyes lingering on the oddly dressed woman standing a bit behind Strider, before continuing, "Héru elrond waits. (Lord Elrond waits.)"

"Gather your things." Strider commanded the hobbits. and they quickly did as they were told, loading their things back onto Bill. 

"Can you ride?" Strider suddenly asked his question directed towards Olive, as he lifted Pippin up to sit behind the elf.

"I've only ever ridden a horse once... if that counts..." She spoke up. He stopped and looked over at her before nodding and picking up Merry, before placing him onto one of the other horses.

"Sam, you've ridden, yes?" He asked, to which the hobbit answered with a nod. Strider then proceeded to lift Sam onto the horse with Merry while Larrel held the reins.

Strider mounted the last horse before reaching out a hand to Olive. "I don't think I can get on..." She fumbled, staring up at the man. 

"Come on I'll help you." 

Nervously she took his hand, and with his help she was able to climb on behind him. And they began their trek towards Rivendel.

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Olive nodded off a few times, jolting awake when her forehead came in contact with Striders back, she would mumble an apology and try to keep her eyes open fro the rest of the journey. She had no idea how she could even attempt to fall asleep with the saddle being so uncomfortable, but some how she managed to do it. One minute they're in the woods, she closes her eyes for just one second, and the next they stood in front of a beautiful arch way above a path that lead towards angelic buildings gathered onto a cliff with beautiful waterfalls sparkling underneath.

"Rivendell." Sam breathed out in awe. 

A tall man stood at the foot of some stairs that lead up into the beautiful structure. He had extremely long brown hair and was wearing a fancy robe that dragged the floor.

"Elrond!" Strider greeted as he climbed off the horse, before reaching up to help Olive down.

"Estel." Elrond bowed his head in return, a small smile gracing his lips. 

"Is Frodo well?" Sam asked with slight urgency lacing his tone.

"Fear not Sam, after you are all fed and clean, I shall take you to him." Elrond clasped his hands behind his back in the most graceful manner possible before turning towards the beautiful building, and spoke halfway turned towards the small group "Come."

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