Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search
swiss replica watches replica watches uk Replica Rolex DateJust Watches

The Road to Edoras  by Dreamflower

CHAPTER 16

Beri and Viola had strolled to the edge of the settlement, and had turned around to head back to the inn; it was beginning to get dark, and they realized they had been out longer than they had meant to be. They did not wish to be late for supper, after all.

Viola was telling Beri of a bit of mischief that little Flora Goodbody, Pippin’s neice had done recently, and how Pippin had tried to take the blame for her. “And what was so funny was that if Lady Eglantine had not already *known* it was little Flora who had spilled the water and broken the vase, everyone would have been perfectly ready to believe that Pippin had done it. He actually seemed a bit chagrined when it came out that he had not.” She shook her head, remembering Pippin’s vexation and embarrassment when his mother had revealed the true culprit. “His mother told him that just because Frodo and Merry had always covered up for him, he did not need to be spoiling his neice by covering up for her. I think he was more upset at everyone realizing he had *not* done it.”

Beri laughed. “Well, Pip’s reputation was justly earned over a lifetime of accidents and mischief, mostly aided and abetted by Merry, I have to add. Merry was only too happy to take the credit and the blame for Pippin‘s mishaps--and half the time, the trouble Pip got into was started by Merry in the first place.”

Viola giggled, but suddenly gave a gasp of fear as a huge hand landed on her shoulder. Beri whirled around as the same thing happened to him.

“What are you children doing out on the street at this time of evening?” proclaimed a stentorian female voice. “Where are your parents? What are they thinking?”

They stared up into the red face of a rather large woman, obviously older. Her iron grey hair was pulled to the back of her head, and she wore a large ruffled cap and a dress in a rather lurid shade of purple. Her eyes pierced like gimlets. Beri was reminded very uncomfortably of Lobelia.

“We are not children!” he exclaimed helplessly, as she sank her fingers into their arms. “We are simply hobbits!”

“Don’t be absurd!” She propelled them along in her firm grip. “My son is the blacksmith. He is also one of the town council. I will take you to him, and then we shall find your parents! The very idea of you running about unsupervised this way! You could get into all sorts of mischief! I heard you laughing and plotting!”

“But, please, Mistress!” cried Viola, “really we are *not* children!”

“You are most certainly impertinent! Come along, now! Whatever would possess your parents to allow you to roam around like this!”

The two hobbits gave one another panicked looks. This ought to be funny, but it most certainly was not.

“Excuse me, Mistress,” said a calm and welcome and very beautiful voice. “These are not children.” The tall figure was regal, and very faintly seemed to glow.

“Legolas!” cried Berilac. The way Legolas looked now reminded him very much of how the Elf had appeared when he was announced at the Ball, even though he was dressed in his usual attire.

She gaped. “You are an Elf,” she said, in a shocked tone of voice. Her gulp was audible.

“Yes, Mistress. Legolas Greenleaf of the Great Greenwood, at your service. These young people are most definitely *not* children, they are hobbits, halflings, who are journeying to the court of the High King in Gondor, and my companions.”

His calm and authoritative voice and his majestic appearance had the desired effect. She looked at Beri and Viola more carefully, and noted the pointed ears and the furry feet.

“Why, I never!” She was very clearly flustered and over-awed by the appearance of this unearthly creature. She jerked her hands off them, and said roughly “I beg your pardon.”

Legolas inclined his head ever so slightly. “I bid you good day, Mistress. I shall see my friends back to the inn.”

The three walked off, and Beri risked a backwards glance. “She’s still standing there gawping,” he chuckled. “Thank you for rescuing us, Legolas. That was very embarrassing. I’m sure we could have made it right eventually, but it might have taken a while. She did not seem inclined to listen to a word we said.” He shook his head. That had to have been one of his strangest experiences ever.

Legolas smiled down at the hobbit, who had placed an arm around the shaken Viola’s shoulders. “That is often a failing of some people, especially adults who think they are dealing with children.”

Viola gave a shudder, and shook her head with a rueful laugh. “I am glad you came along when you did! At least she listened to *you*!”

The Elf laughed his clear and musical laugh, and said “Well, I am sure she felt like a child herself at that moment. My people can have that effect on mortals sometimes. You see, to us, everyone else *is* a child!”

“You don’t look like that very often,” said Beri, somewhat dazed himself at how the Elven prince had appeared. He tended to forget, since the Elf himself made little of it, that they were travelling with a Prince. Not to mention the fact that Beri could not even begin to imagine how old he was.

Legolas shook his head. “It is not often necessary to show myself. I do not need to impress my friends, after all.”

Viola laughed, and Beri grinned. “I’m glad you think we are your friends, then. I do not think I could find much to talk about with you if you looked like that all the time!”

He looked down at them fondly as they approached the inn. “How could I not think you are my friends?” He laughed, clear as a bell. “You are hobbits, after all.”

The two of them were puzzled. What did *that* have to do with it? But then they entered the inn.

Mistress Poppy, who had planned a scolding for their lateness took in the manner of their arrival. “What has happened?” she asked.

The others began to gather round as they told of what had happened. Beri said “I think I would have found her intimidating even had she not been so very large. She was that sort of person. But I am ever so grateful that Legolas came along when he did, or we might, even now, be trying to convince her son the blacksmith, that we are not children.”

Everyone was amused at their story, but somewhat annoyed as well. It was not hard for each to imagine himself in a similar situation.

“I am afraid,” said Freddy, “that this kind of thing may happen to us from time to time. Merry and Pippin, and Frodo as well, warned us often enough that some of the Big Folk see us as children--although I am sure it is not often quite so literally! We shall have to brush up our toes and be alert from here on out.”

Legolas slipped back out, and resumed his interrupted trip to the beech grove, leaving the cheerful sounds of hobbit laughter behind him. He was glad to be having the chance to travel with hobbits once more. He had become quite accustomed to having them around.

The next morning there was a bustle as the group made ready to leave; Freddy had taken only toast and a bit of stomach settling tea for his breakfast, mindful of his passage along the Brandywine Bridge, and anticipating much the same as they crossed the Greyflood, or Gwathlo, as it was also called. Beri and Legolas and Gimli made sure to stick close by his side.

The Men came up and joined them, Borondir and Anwynd were acting as the banner bearers today, and the prisoners were riding with Leodwald, Danulf, Artamir and Adrahil. Targon gave the signal and the party moved out, watched by some of the people of the town. Viola noticed the big woman who had accosted them the night before pointing them out to one of her friends, whispering no doubt of their strange appearance and of the Elf who had come to their rescue.

They had resupplied all their provisions again, and were ready to begin one of the longer legs of their journey, towards the Gap of Rohan. From what the Men had told them, there were no more settlements of any size between here and there.

As they came in sight of the river and the bridge, Freddy gave a gasp. He had been expecting something like the Stonebow Bridge at the Brandywine, broad and sturdy and built of stones and mortar. What he saw was a wooden bridge not even so wide as the roadway. Furthermore, the planks of the bridge seemed to be suspended on thick ropes, and hung just above the churning, roiling water, which had risen to within less than a foot of the bottom of the bridge. He felt dizzy, and swayed slightly on his pony. Beri looked at him.

“Freddy, are you all right?”

Freddy just nodded. He was going to *do* this.

Legolas glanced over at him. worried. “Freddy, give me your reins.” He reached over and took them, and Freddy did not resist. Instead he put both hands on the pommel, and concentrated only on staying in the saddle and keeping from passing out. He took deep breaths.

As the pony’s hooves set down upon the planks of the bridge, he closed his eyes, and tried his best to ignore the slight swaying motion underfoot.

Clip-clop! Clip clop! Clip-clop!

Breathe, Freddy, he told himself.

It seemed to take forever before he felt the pony stepping once more on solid ground, and realized they were now back upon the roadway. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

“Well done, laddie!” exclaimed Gimli.

Legolas nodded, and handed the pony’s reins back to him. On his other side, Beri heaved a deep sigh of relief. Merry had told him of Freddy’s aversion to crossing water, and had made him promise to watch out for their cousin. He saw now what Merry had meant. He felt a good deal of admiration for Freddy for what he had just accomplished. He wondered if there were anything he feared as much, and whether or not he could face it so well.

As Freddy felt his stomach settle itself, he took a large drink from his waterskin, and helped himself to an apple from the sack on his saddle.

Now that Tharbad was behind them, their journey fell once more into the rhythm of the road. They rode along talking and enjoying the scenery. They would not stop until luncheon, and today the cooking chores belonged to Mistress Poppy and Viola.





<< Back

Next >>

Leave Review
Home     Search     Chapter List