The Fellowship of the Novel Characters
Hi everyone! Sorry I didn’t write yesterday, but I was spending the day with a friend I haven’t seen in four years! So this post is a day late, but here it is!
Warning: Lord of the Rings is rated PG-13, and while my writing will not be excessively gory, it will reflect the darkness and death that the Fellowship had to face. Also, spoilers.
Summary: Stella is really confused and scared, and there’s a weird, beautiful lady speaking gibberish.
Table of Contents:
“Who is she?” asked Merry.
The woman didn’t pay attention as she knelt next to Frodo. “Frodo!” So she knew his name! Was he a friend?
“She’s an elf,” said Sam, his voice full of wonder. I stared at the slender woman in confusion. When I thought elf, I thought of jolly little creatures at Christmastime helping Santa. This woman completely redrew that picture in my mind. Now Strider was kneeling next to her, shoving a plant into his mouth and chewing.
“What are you doing?” I asked, still holding my sword out with sweaty hands.
Still they ignored me. “He’s fading,” said the woman. The man nodded, spitting the chewed-up plant onto the tips of his fingers and pulling Frodo’s sleeve back. Frodo wheezed painfully as Strider rubbed the makeshift salve into the festering, crusty wound. I looked away, my stomach turning. Candace was still staring staunchly, her jaw set as she sheathed her sword and pulled back her curly hair. “He’s not going to last,” said the woman to Strider. “We must get him to my father. I’ve been searching for you for two days.”
“Where will you be taking him?” asked Merry. Again, the grownups paid no attention to the kids. It was the way of every world, I guess.
“There are five wraiths behind you,” the woman continued. “Where the other four are, I do not know.”
“Don’t you use contractions?” asked Candace, holding Luke absentmindedly as he squirmed. The woman stood, waiting as Strider lifted Frodo onto the woman’s white horse, who stood patiently as the woman mounted. The two began conversing in a different language. I finally sheathed my sword, reaching up and running my fingers through my hair. It was greasy and tangled, and I attempted to finger-comb it to no avail.
“Arwen, ride hard!” urged Strider, stepping away from the horse. “Don’t look back.” The woman nodded, leaning forward and whispering to her horse. He whinnied, taking off.
“What are you doing?” Sam yelled at Strider, his usually gentle face contorted in anger. “Those wraiths are still out there!”
Strider barely nodded, staring after the way the woman had left. “We have to go now,” he said abruptly. “Get your things. It’s a long walk to Rivendell.”
“Of course Frodo gets the horse ride,” grumbled Candace, setting Luke down and trailing after Strider.
***
“Is this Rivendell?” I asked as we stood on an outcrop of rock, staring down at a beautiful mansion? palace? village? Whatever it was, it radiated beauty and serenity.
“The home of the elves,” whispered Sam.
“Yes,” said Strider, hiking his pack up and setting down the winding stone path. We followed him, everyone silent as they dreamed of our beautiful destination. I imagined a bath, a chance to wash my hair, clean clothes, and some hearty food.
“Aragorn!” A young man waved at him. “Are these the companions of yours that Lady Arwen spoke of.”
“Yes,” said Strider–or was he Aragorn–wearily.
“Ah. We’ll get everyone cleaned up immediately.” Another beautiful woman approached me and Candace, taking our arms and leading us away.
I got everything I’d dreamed of and more. A woman drew a bath, and I sighed as I watched the dirt float off of me. After bathing, the woman helped my wash my hair, and then dressed me in a clean, pale blue velvet dress. “This is so nice,” I sighed as she braided my hair.
“I’m glad. You seemed like you’ve had a long journey.”
“I definitely have,” I said, eyeing my sword. It and its sheath had been cleaned and it was now lying at the foot of my bed. “Where’s Candace?”
“She’s being taken care of, don’t worry.” The woman finished braiding my hair and stood. “Now, some dinner?”
***
Later, Candace and I were walking Candace in the gardens, listening to Merry and Pippin chat as we drifted farther away. Eventually their talk ceased, and Candace and I walked in silence. “This doesn’t seem real, does it?” asked Candace, watching as Luke sniffed around the base of a tree.
“No. I mean, it isn’t. Not out real, anyway. That doesn’t make sense, does it?”
“I get it.” We walked on, mulling over our thoughts. This whole quest had made things difficult and strained between us. Not that we’d fought, but through this whole quest we’d barely had time to speak to each other. Considering that we’d been sucked through our TV into a movie series where I knew people would die, we should’ve talked.
“Frodo!” I snapped back to reality at Candace’s cry, seeing the hobbit standing in front of us. He smiled shyly. “You’re alive!” Candace dropped down, hugging him tight, and I followed suit. Maybe there would be death sooner or later, but at least Frodo’s survival right now was one small victory.
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