~ XV: Many meetings ~
~ Part II: Friends of new~
Imladris, 3018 TA, October 24
The human had stepped out of Legolas' bed-chamber into the hallways that same morning, after dawn, with a hazy light pouring into the valley of Imladris. With everything that had happened lately, she was more aware of her new life than her old one. She remembered Gabrielle most of the time and hoped she was doing alright. It was due to Gabrielle knowing she was dead and continuing with her own life.
Xena knew that her trusted friend would miss her as well. But she would never want her to come to this forsaken world. And go through all this darkness that this world was facing. In a confusing way, Xena was already in peace when it come to Gabrielle. It was like she knew that she was safe and well. Xena understood that Gabrielle would face problems and her life would have bad moments. But she knew Gabrielle, and she would find her way.
Her gaze was drawn to the majestic beauty of the valley as she wandered through the halls, hungry and chilly. Her tummy grumbled wanting some meal now that she knew the woodland elf was alive. She just needed a glass of nice red wine and some steak. There was a variety of greens, bread, cheese, and milk supplied. Why didn't they provide any meat?
'By the gods, she could not eat more green!'
On the main halls would travellers be found, most often dwarves and humans, hurrying along on business to get ready for tomorrow's council. It seemed that they had no words to spare for strangers. And Xena was ignored as everyone was busy with their devices. Down in the lowest parts and most sheltered corner of the balcony she approached observing the fire that was lit and a group of children preparing a meal.
"I don't understand how food could be formed of green," Pippin said "We were served breakfast, which was hardly a feast, but we ate more than we could, if not more. And Merry, I'm still hungry."
"There's the food we preserved," Merry said, "and I've collected berries, roots, and herbs from the kitchen that will improve the flavour of our meal."
"It's going to be a fine day," Pippin said, adding, "Have you told Sam to come and see us out here?"
"No, he's still with Frodo," Merry said, "and I don't think Sam is in the spirit to cook for us. He's concerned about Frodo and Sam has hardly left his side"
As Merry approached, Pippin was adding more wood to the fire "He is, indeed, that he is." said Pippin "Then we should hurry and grill the steaks; perhaps the flavour will attract Sam and Frodo."
It attracted neither Frodo nor Sam, but the cooked meat caught the human's attention. Xena watched the children while they chatted and prepared the fire for a brief period. After her eyes adjusted and she got a closer look, she saw that the two friends named Pippin and Merry were not children. They resembled humans, with short stature and hairy feet, and seemed to be young adults. Those were not children, but rather a different species she had never seen before.
"Merry who is that?" Pippin paused what he was doing and pointed at the tall woman that was staring at them "I think she is looking at us for some time now."
"She could be an elf maiden," Merry turned and looked at Pippin worried "It's the fire... are we allowed to lit a fire?"
Pippin saw that Xena was now staring at him as if she had heard or deduced all that had been spoken. She nodded and motioned to them not to worry with a sweep of her hand. She then walked over to see them. Both hobbits were able to view Xena as she approached. She seemed to be a gorgeous maiden, but she was wearing armour and her physique was different from the elf maidens they had previously seen.
"I am called Xena," she introduced herself in a low voice "I am not an elf and I am not here about the fire. Are you cooking steaks?"
"Yes, my lady. Would you like to join us?" Pippin asked, "I'm Peregrin Took, known as Pippin and this is my first cousin Meriadoc Brandybuck, but we call him Merry."
"The name is Xena," she corrected them "Yes, I did not have a proper meal for weeks."
"Too much Green?" Merry asked gazing at the tall woman surprised.
"Yup," Xena said and took a seat near the fire "So Pippin and Merry, I am not sure I am familiar with your kind."
"We are hobbits of the Shire, as our friends Frodo and Sam," Merry said as he was placing the steaks on the fire.
The human looked at both of them, and she recalled reading about the Shire and the hobbits from that children's book. She thought that hobbits were only creations of the imagination of the writers. However, she was wrong and now she was sitting with two of them sharing a meal.
"Aren't you both far from home?" Xena asked. She had never travelled outside Rivendell but she had seen the maps and Shire was far away from Rivendell. "Why would you travel alone in such dangerous times?" she asked the next question trying to find more information about that forsaken place called Middle-Earth.
"We just followed Frodo to this adventure. But as you said it was very dangerous. We were lucky we met with Strider and he aided us, or we could be dead." Merry explained looking quite terrified as he recalled the memories of their journey to reach Rivendell.
"We could be killed since Gandalf never showed up," Pippin complained, "But at least he is alive and arrived in Rivendell as well."
"Gandalf?" Xena quizzed "Aw, the wizard!"
"Yes, Gandalf the grey, do you know him?" Merry asked curiously.
"I have heard about him. I do not know him. But that will change," Xena said gazing towards the halls of Rivendell "I will meet him today."
"Are you in trouble as well?" Pippin said puzzled wanting to know more about the tall woman "I mean from afar you look like an elf maiden, but I believe you are not!"
Xena laughed listening to Pippin "Do I," she quizzed while smirking "No, I am afraid I am only human. And I am lost. And you wizard might know the answers that I seek."
"Gandalf is very wise, he surely will aid you to find your way!" Pippin told her with an earnest smile.
The three of them sat down and spoke for a little longer. Merry served the meal once the steaks were cooked, and they ate. Eating was by far her favourite part of the day now, not just because of the steak the hobbits shared with her, but also because of the small conversation and easygoing atmosphere they shared. It was then that Xena realised Hobbits were fascinating beings. They seemed peaceful and relaxed, making her feel at ease around them.
A few yards away, Sam guided Frodo through numerous corridors, down several stairs, and out onto a high garden under the enormous balcony and above the river's rocky bank. They discovered their buddies seated on a porch on the east side of the home. The air was frosty. The sound of rushing and falling water was audible, and the morning was filled with a mild aroma of trees and flowers mixed with the smoke from the cooked steak.
"Hurray!" cried Pippin, springing up. 'Here is our cousin! Make way for Frodo!"
Marry and Xena were taken aback when they saw Pippin rush off his seat and leap against Frodo, hugging him. Marry was the next to rise up, and he walked up to Frodo and Sam, where he hugged all three hobbits. Xena was watching them as they greeted their friends. She remembered the name and how the party of three had followed him from the Shire to Rivendell for some reason. She also recalled hearing the elves chatting about Frodo and how Lord Elrond was healing him when they took Legolas injured to the healing rooms the day before.
"I feel I could sing if I knew the right song for the occasion," added Pippin gazing at Frodo "I knew it you would come and find us."
"I feel like singing myself," laughed Frodo "Though at the moment I feel more like eating and drinking!"
"That will soon be fixed! Like a true hobbit, you have shown up in time for a meal," said Pippin as he took a step back towards the fire to get some steak for Frodo and Sam.
"When Gandalf told us that you are recovering the preparation began," added Merry "The elves preparing a meal as well, more like a feast, but until then you should have some good food."
"You can eat the green later," smirked Pippin as he served the last two steaks to Sam and Frodo.
"Thank you very much, Pippin," Frodo said and accepted the plate with the steak. He took a seat next to the tall woman and gazed at her "I think we have no met, my Lady?"
She watched as Sam sat next to him exploring the food as if he would have a few suggestions for Pippin and Marry, how to grill the steak next time. "We have not," Xena replied staring at Frodo and starting to feel a bit upset, it was like there was something dark orbiting the creature, something she could not name.
It was Pippin who interrupted the odd moment "This is Xena," he said pointing at her "She was lost and wants to find her way home. This is my cousin Frodo and this is Sam."
Xena offered a small gesture greeting the hobbits, but her expression did not change. She was not feeling as at ease as before, it was like something was there with them. All four hobbits were sitting now and the human got the hint that she should leave them to their devices.
"Alright... Hobbits, it is time for me to seek the wizard," Xena said and stood up placing the plate on the porch and gazed at the group of four "The steak was really good!"
Pippin stood up and waved at her, and the four of them watched her stroll up the balcony's steps and disappear into the corridors of Imladris. Frodo glanced at her in awe, having never seen a human woman in armour, much alone such a beautiful lady as her. To his eyes she seemed like a foreign woman, a woman of a few words and eyes could pierce through his soul and find out his secrets.
Gandalf and Elrond were observing the tiny feast of the four hobbits and the human form Elrond's balcony. They had been conversing for quite some time now, about the betrayal of Saruman, Frodo, the ring, and even the human being in question.
"His strength returns." said Elrond while gazing at Frodo "the Hobbit has shown extraordinary resilience to its evil."
Gandalf nodded as he was leaning against the wooden railing observing the company of four "That wound will never fully heal. It is a burden he should never have had to bear." answered the wizard "We can ask no more of Frodo."
"Gandalf, the enemy is moving. Sauron's forces are massing in the East..." continued Elrond and both kept now discussing the danger of the ring and Saruman.
While below, Xena found Elrond and an elderly man wearing a long grey robe and a silver scarf, with a long white beard and bushy eyebrows. 'That must be the wizard,' she reasoned as she followed the path that led to Elrond's balcony where both men were conversing.
"... There's no strength left in the world of Men. They are scattered, divided, leaderless," added Elrond as their conversation was reaching its end.
"There is one who could unite them, one who could reclaim the throne of Gondor." uttered the wizard as Xena appeared behind them.
"He turned from that path a long time ago." Elrond said, "He has chosen exile."
"I think it is a sad story," said the wizard "and one we are not going to discuss right now as the human found us."
"She found us without much adventure," he said "Come join us!"
Xena came quickly and placed herself near them. She usually would be in a hurry to talk and speak her mind out. However, that time among Gandalf and Elrond felt too serious and heavy for her to open her mouth. She decide to wait and listen to what the wizard should tell her and if she would take him seriously.
"I have heard so much about you, about your origins and your restless behaviour," replied Gandalf without trying to filter his words "Xena of Amphipolis, how can I help you?"
"Then I suppose you were already aware of me and my circumstances, Old Man," Xena said. "Can I return to my world?"
"You cannot," Gandalf said "It's a great deal that you recall your background and your memories, that was very similar."
"Are you telling me this happened again? Similar to what?" Xena asked him in a low and deadly tone "How are you sure that I can't return?"
"Only too true, I fear, But you cannot return," Gandalf answered "Whatever power dark or not brought you here, cannot be undone."
"I was dead in my world, and I wanted to remain dead," Xena stated harshly "Who would want me here? And alive, that makes no sense. I have no connection to your world!"
"Alas! There should be a little hope of you from returning alive," the wizard said "If you died, as I can remember is easier to enter another world. Why the Valar would bring you to middle earth I cannot answer you that question, but there is a reason for your coming."
"There is no hope for people who led my life, old man," Xena answered softening her tone a little bit, "What reason would that be?"
"You ought to begin to understand, Xena, after all, you have heard and seen," said Gandalf. "It is a strange event in the whole history, of someone arriving from another world. For you and for us, there is a lot at risk at this time, too much darkness... war rises."
"Old man the only reason would be for me to interfere in a world that is not important for me. I have no reason for being here, and I do not want to!" Xena added.
"There is a reason, but you have not discovered it yet," answered Gandalf "It is no laughing matter, not for you. You will find your answers on your own. For now, the only advice I would offer you is to stay in Rivendell and attended the council."
Elrond gazed at Gandalf confused, he was suspecting the human as a spy, and Gandalf just invited her to be part of the council. Yet, the wizard's word was trusted and Elrond nodded allowing for the human to be part. "The council will meet tomorrow morning; be present." said the elven lord "without putting anyone's lives at risk!"
Xena waited that she would be threatened or punished for causing Legolas's injury, but she only got away with a note. Not even a warning! She was puzzled about the wizard and even Lord Elrond. She could not say a lot about the wizard, only that he was speaking in riddles and that he knew more about her situation than he admitted.
"Yeah," she agreed "I will do that. And if your council makes no sense, you should allow me to leave Rivendell. You can not keep me here as a prisoner."
"You were never a prisoner," Elrond laughed "You were weak, full of pride and a forgotten dignity trying to escape for a safe place. It was the only way to keep you alive. However, when the time comes and you wish to depart from Imladris we will assist you to save travels."
The warrior princess was speechless for a long second, neither the wizard nor Elrond seemed to be unreasonable. Regardless of their previous fights, both seemed to respect her and her wishes. Their meeting confused her, maybe there was a reason that she ended up in Middle-Earth alive. Maybe, just maybe she had to pay back for all the evil she had once created in her previous life. That was the reason she agreed to take part in the council, to find out what was going on, and what evil they were dealing with. After all, Xena was never a quitter or cowered, if so many races of this world showed up in Rivendell for this council something was wrong. And she was starting to understand a little bit this forsaken world.
It was late evening when Xena was done with all the new and bizarre meetings of today as she was strolling down the halls of Imladris. She stopped in a darker part that seemed like a gallery. There were paintings on the walls depicting Isildur defeating Sauron. Sauron the Dark Lord, who crafted the rings. She recalled reading the story in the children's book. She paused and noticed a few steps away from her two men talking under the shadow.
"You are no Elf," said the first "Who are you?"
"Men of the South are welcome here." answered the man dressed in dark "I am a friend to Gandalf the Grey."
"Then we are here on common purpose ... friend." added the first one.
Xena remained only briefly till the first man picked up the shards of Narsil; she glanced at the weapon infamous for severing Sauron's Ring from his fingers. Then she averted her gaze and found herself exchanging eyes with the dark-dressed man; he extended a little nod in greeting, and she reciprocated with a similar gesture. Following that, she stepped back and made her way to her bed-chamber to rest.
((Upcoming ChapterSixteen))
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