Dealings with Stubborn Elves

I woke up, startled, at Legolas's shout. Through my blurred eyes, I was Ella running off over the top of the rise. A few others jumped up as well, but most just groaned and rolled over.

"Legolas, what in the world is it?" Elena mumbled while rubbing her eyes. He stood there, glancing towards the way Ella was running and back, looking slightly unsure of himself.

"I - ah - just thought that I would wake everyone - er - up." He finally mumbled, looking for all the world like a child who had been caught at something.

"Well, couldn't you have done it a bit quieter?" Elena sounded almost irritated. "It is still early and I don't see the rush."

"No, of course. No rush. Go back to sleep." Legolas turned and began to walk quickly away. Wondering what on earth had happened, I followed him.

"Legolas, there was a reason you shouted to wake us up." I caught up to him and grabbed hold of his arm. "Why was Ella running away from camp?"

"Nothing, it was nothing." He tried to shrug me off. I held on tighter.

"No, it's not nothing." I insisted. He remained silent, and I felt my irritation with him growing. "Ella didn't just run off because she felt like it. You had something to do with this, what was it? What did you do?"

"She did not have to run away."

"But she did." I waited for him to answer. "Fine," I huffed. "I shall go find her and see if she is more willing to talk." I left my stubborn cousin standing there and stormed off over the rise. I looked around for Ella, wondering where she could have gone to, and hoping she had not run into trouble. Finally, I saw her, huddled up next to a rock.

"Ella!" I called, running up. She looked up, almost fearfully, then flushed and turned away. I dropped down beside her. "Ella, what is it? Why did you run away?" I saw with some concern that she had been crying. "What happened?"

"Just go away!" She cried, trying to push me away.

"Not until you tell me what is wrong."

"No."

"Yes."

"Well, just look at me!"

I looked her over. "What? You look the same as ever."

Ella turned to me almost fiercely. "What do you mean I look the same? Just look at my hair!"

I did, and my eyes grew wide. Her hair, normally straight, now had the loveliest curls I had ever seen. "Oh Ella," I breathed. "It's gorgeous! How in the world did you get it like that?"

She stared at me with disbelief. "You - what?"

"I think it is lovely! You should always have it like this! How do you do it?"

"It - uh - it's natural." She stammered. Seeming to gather courage, she went on. "When I was younger, in Rivendell, the other children made fun of me, so I discovered away to straighten it. I do it every morning so no one will know. Legolas is the only one here who knows my secret. He thinks it will help me to find my family, because he thinks it means that I am part Hobbit. This morning, he tried to show my hair to everyone, without my consent" she finished wryly.

I nearly flared up again. "Really! That elf. Sometimes I can hardly believe he is the even keeled elf from the Red Book of Westmarch. But your hair!" I ran my fingers through it. "It is so beautiful. And as for it meaning you are part hobbit..." I looked closer and shook my head. "I rather doubt it. Hobbit's curls are closer together and more springy, you know? But yours are loser, more gentle. No, if anything, I think you must have human blood."

Ella looked surprised. "Really? There are those of the race of men that have curled hair?"

"Rarely, but sometimes they do. I've known one or two of the Rohirrim who have curled hair, Aldarion says his mother had curled hair, and my great-great grandfather - who was human - is said to have curled hair as well."

She sat silently, thinking this new information over. "I suppose Legolas has told everyone," she said at last.

I shook my head. "No, actually." I laughed, "he rather awkwardly came up with -well - no excuse for waking everyone up so early. Would you like me to help you straighten your hair before we go back?"

Ella shook her head slowly. "No, I think I will leave it the way it is." She looked up at me. "I was afraid that I would be made fun of, but your reaction has given me reassurance." She hugged me.

I released her and ran my hand over her hair again. "Good, I was hoping you would. You know, the wash you used to straighten it must have changed the color slightly as well. It looks redder than it did before."

We got up and began to walk back to camp, conversing merrily.

"Can I give Legolas a tongue lashing for you?"

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Because, there is no need to now! My hair is the way it naturally is. Isn't that what you both wanted?"

'Yesss... but it's the fact that he tried to reveal it without your consent."

"I suppose he did... but no."

"Spoil sport."

"Too bad!"


~ Rosriel, 74 miles

Warning: Stubborn Elf (handle with care)

I am going to kill that elf. Or I would if he had succeeded in his little scheme. When I slipped away from the group this morning, I found Legolas waiting for me.

"Tell me everything you know about your past," he said.

"And good morning to you too," I said, kneeling down and beginning my morning routine.

He said nothing.

"Determined, this morning, I see."

"Do you want my help?"

"Yes. Sorry. We've been through this before...I know nothing."

"Remind me how much nothing you know."

"All right," I said. "Elrond told me I was brought to Rivendell by a woman he did not know. She asked that I be taken care of, but would tell him nothing about my past. In Elrond's mind that meant that my past was something I ought to be ashamed of. I don't believe that though. I have to trust that my family was or is good and noble. The woman who left me was not a relative. That's all I know."

"Well, that and the fact that you have--"

"Yes, that. If it means anything."

"Ella, maybe it does. Maybe...maybe someone along with us can help you! They come from all over. Perhaps they have heard something."

"And perhaps not. I'd rather not have my hopes dashed, Legolas. Not again."

"But if we don't ask, we'll never know."

I sighed.

Without warning, Legolas grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the others. "Everybody wake up!" he yelled.

I screamed and released myself from his grip. He wanted them to see me before my preparations were finished! He wanted me to reveal my secret! I couldn't let him. A part of me said that maybe he was right, and it would help, but a larger part reminded me of what had happened in the past, and I had no desire to return to that. I ran from him, crying.

My tears are beginning to dry now, but I'm not yet ready to return to camp. I have been humiliated. And I know not what they may have seen. They were sleepy, but some did open their eyes. Perhaps I was just a blur, as I am hoping, but perhaps not.

Seeing Double...

We trudge on cheerfully, much heartened by the laughter and fun from the previous day. I woke this morning thankfully early, on the small hill we had made our rest on.

I stretched and yawned, somewhat sore from yesterday's glorious water fight. And rubbed my eyes to make sure I was not dreaming.

Snow capped peaks were visible in the distance! My heart leaped at the thought of snow, and that we were making fine progress. Then my day - so new-begun - took a turn for the better.

"Aiya, (hail!) Wyn!"

Elladan or Elrohir (I could not tell), called out to me merrily, from a large craggy rock where he was perched - scouting the weather no doubt, with his keen elven eyes.

I halted in amazement, my hands stilling. Surely he did not just address me? I looked around and saw that no one else had risen. Even Legolas was still in his elvish dreams. The other twin was nowhere to be seen.

I turned back to the elf on the rock who was watching me curiously. I wondered if he realized this was the first he (or his brother) had spoken to me. After Lira and I were rescued, they had mainly spoken only to Elena, Legolas and the Rangers. I had grown used to my seemingly invisible presence before them.

They had not said much, even yesterday, but laughed a great deal, rather. He and his brother had splashed me joyfully during the water fight and they had even swung me into the water.

He was still watching me patiently. I smiled back at him friendly, and was shocked again as he half stepped off his perch and beckoned to me with a slim finger. Trying to swallow my heart, which suddenly seemed to have leapt in to my mouth, I made my way to his side without tripping which was astonishing in itself.

He smiled at me and patted the rock beside him. I sat obediently, a very happy bubble of sheer giggling-ish rising within me. I managed, heroically, to stifle it and put on a mature front.

"This is the first you have awoken early, to my knowledge," he observed with a smile.

I ducked my head apologetically, my cheeks warm. I was no morning bird, but rather a night owl. After a few days Rosriel had kindly offered to wake me. To my relief it had been easy; she needed only to shake me and I was conscious.

"Yes," I said. "I do love waking early, contrary to the Fellowship's belief; I simply have difficulty falling asleep."

He laughed at that.

"Where is your brother?" I asked curiously, hoping to hear a name, and thus, solve the puzzle.

"Somewhere gathering herbs for Elena," the elf replied.

Defeated, I opened my mouth. "Are you Elrohir or Elladan?"

The elf winked at me. "The former."

"Ah," I said, satisfied.

Elrohir drew his legs up thoughtfully and rested his chin on his folded arms. "Tell me about yourself," he said in a clear voice. "I know nothing of you, save your name."

"Alright," I stammered, surprised at his request. I slid off and sat on the ground, my back against the rock, feeling more comfortable.

"Um, I live between the Shire and Lotherien with my family," I began slowly, playing with the damp grass with my fingers. "I have many siblings, and even more cousins..."

I continued, undisturbed. I spoke more of my family and the woods where we played. He seemed interested and wanted to learn more.

"What do you do in the woods?"

"Sit in the trees," I confessed sheepishly.

My companion found that amusing and chuckled, pressing me for more.

"I usually read or sing. Sometimes, well - most of the time - I write in the book my father gave me." My eyes flickered to my pack where it lay and I thought of my newest entries of the Fellowship.

I felt Elrohir stir, but moved my eyes to the peaks. I was slowly feeling comfortable with nary a drop of my usual shyness. If I turned to look at him, I'd probably lose my courage altogether. I was nervous for I was not quite used to speaking alone with a male, much less an elf.

I told him of the little talan my siblings and I had made with our father in one of our trees. "We each have a little part, a shelf for each of us. I filled mine with my bow, books and little pots of herbs."

"You practice archery?" Elrohir sounded surprised.

"I am no Thranduilion," I rolled my eyes, "but I can shoot. Not very well admittedly, but I can."

He grinned.

"We are very fond of it. Our talan, I mean. 'Tis our own little home. Or elven hole if you will. I have a Hobbit hole as well, beneath the roots of the tree. I keep pots and pans there and cook a meal for us sometimes."

"Soup?" the elf interrupted merrily, with raised eyebrows.

"All the time," I said gravely, failing miserably to keep a grin from my face.

"Poor Dior," he laughed, his eyes following his train of thought to the snoring dwarf asleep by the fire.

I giggled. "Rose and Lira are being very stubborn, aren’t they?"

He rolled his eyes. "Such Elves."

Oh That Odious Dior

As we were drying ourselves by the fire, I sat down next to Dior. Some members of our group looked disgusted, some confused, but I ignored them. This feuding needed to stop.

"Hello, Ella," Dior said. "Wouldn't you rather sit beside your friends?"

I smiled. "You're my friend too, Dior."

"You do realize I'm a dwarf, right?"

I laughed.

"So...friends."

"Yes, Dior."

"So what do you want?"

I sighed. "Well..."

I explained how I wished he would get along with my other friends, and how perhaps now that the others had had their fun there were no hard feelings on that side. He didn't give me any real promises, but I have high hopes for a brighter future.

Legolas refused to let me walk again until my ankle was completely healed--which in his mind meant until I could walk without limping. Well, I'm able to walk without limping now. Don't tell, but my ankle isn't fully healed yet though. I couldn't stand another day in that embarrassing chair. I mean, it was sweet of Legolas and all, and I wouldn't have been able to continue our journey without it, but even so. It seemed like I was looking for sympathy, and I wasn't. So we left the chair by the side of the road, for anyone who may need or want such a contraption.

Water fight!

I am still wet as I sit down to write this. How much fun though! And the look on Dior's face! Let me start at the beginning...

These past few days we have been walking in a stream bed, which was very handy for getting all the water we needed for cooking, and took away any excuse the menfolk had for not washing! The idea however for splashing others with it did not occur though, until today.

I carried the pots and pans I had used for making breakfast down to the stream in order to wash them off.

"Rosriel," Lira called. "Would you like some help with that?"

"Why thank you Lira," I replied. "That would be nice!" I knelt down on the bank and began scrubbing yucca roots that Vila had picked up along the way for soap as Lira finished bringing down the bowls and cups. We were chatting cheerily when a shadow fell over us. I glanced up and stifled back a sigh. It was Dior. Despite what Ella had suggested about trying to make friends, it was still difficult for me to be charitable, even harder for Lira.

"What do you want?" she snapped.

Dior ignored her. "I came to thank you for the fine meal, Miss Rosriel." He bowed and I softened slightly.

"Le hannon," I replied, inclining my head. My good feelings quickly dissipated, however.

"You must have grown in courtesy and decency of cooking since you captured Thorin's company," Dior said in an antagonistic tone of voice.

My face flushed a faint shade of red and I felt my irritation growing again. Before I could make a reply though Lira threw a handful of water straight into the dwarfs face! I couldn't help but laughing at his shocked look and threw my own handful of water. He looked angry, but I could see his lips twitching as if trying not to laugh.

"Never splash a dwarf!" he boomed and threw water all over me before retreating beyond splashing range. Giggling, I attempted to throw water at him, but ended up soaking Lira instead. She shrieked and grabbed a pan full of water to throw on me. I ducked quickly, and much to Lira's dismay she drenched Anarion, who had come up to see what we were doing. He looked startled, then joined in with vengeance. Lira and I threw water at him as best we could through our laughter.

"Two against one is not fair!" Anarion protested. "Aldarion, come and help out your poor besieged brother!"

Aldarion looked up from where he was sharpening his knife. "If you are foolish enough to get involved in a water fight," he said calmly "especially with those two, then you shouldn't expect your older and wiser brother to save you."

Anarion looked so dismayed as he fended off out onslaught, that I felt slightly sorry for him and then did something I would not have otherwise decided to do. Motioning to Lira and Anarion to keep up the raucous, I silently filled a pot of water, crept up behind Aldarion and dumped it on his head. He lept up with a roar of surprise.

"So this is how elf princesses of Greenwood treat Rangers now is it?" He exclaimed. I shrieked as he chased me back down to the water, where I promptly slipped on a rock, falling face first into the cold stream and Aldarion joined in on Anarion's side.

Vila, Ella, Samdo and Elanor all joined in, and after a bit of splashing, so did everyone else - except for Elladan who had previously walked off to somewhere. In the midst of our splashing he returned and stood on the bank watching.

"Am I the only sane member of this fellowship left?" he called with a smile. In response, Elena took a cooking pan of water and threw it at him. Drenched, he joined in as well. Finally, we called a truce and staggered back to our campfire, where we are attempting to dry ourselves off. I admit I am a bit disappointed that our path now leaves the stream, but we must go on. I am sure there will be other streams along the way.
How thankful I am that our fellowship is not pressed by haste and danger, and that we have time for such fun and enjoyment.

~ Lady Rosriel, 70 miles

The Fourth Months Path

Due to Elena's preocupideness at the moment, I have taken it upon my self to write out the fourth month's path.
Well, I am afraid the fellowship has not done the walking for our third month, so that has now become the fourth month's path. We must make up the lost ground!

August 7th we will be at the 60 mile marker, where we will leave the stream bed that we have been following.

We should have walked 67 miles by August 14th. The paths will be few and winding, and we will camp during the day, as the Fellowship did.

We will reach the top of a small rise and angle southeast by August18th, the 70 mile marker.

By August 29th we should have walked 82 miles total and have reached the thorn thicket where the Fellowship camped during the day. As of yet, we have not decided whether or not to camp during the day there, but I think that it would be fun! I just hope that certain members do not push other certain members into the thorns!

I have taken the liberty to decide that we will continue at 7 miles a week, which has so far proved to be a pretty good pace. I hope that we may stick to this month's plan!

~ Lady Rosriel, 69 miles