Title: The Promise of Farewell
Authoress: ChibiTari
Rating: PG/ PG-13
Warnings: Action, OC, humor and hinted romance!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings trilogy, though I wish I did.
Azalynne Driftwood is mine, however, and if you so wish to borrow her then you must ask. Kai belongs to KuriQuinn, Nevorata to my friend Ginny and Lith is owned by Iz. Steph's character, Myranore, is in this as well.
Summary: Azalynne Driftwood decided to protect Frodo with her life but when things become hard, can she keep this promise?
The fic will be very boring in the first two chapters, all it is, is introductions and descriptions. Most of it is taken directly from the script. In the next chapter there will be much more action and way more humor!
Enjoy the fic.
Chapter One (1): Greetings from a World Beyond
The old wooden cart moved steadily on down the worn dirt path as a young brown stallion trotted along, pulling the weight of the wagon along behind him. An elderly man wearing a fading grey robe was seated in the front, pulling on the reigns whenever necessary. He had a long white beard and hair the same colour that peaked out from underneath a long pointed hat, the shade identical to that of his robe.
"Gandalf, please, tell me we've reached this Shire place! My bottom is sore from the many an hour it has spent seated on these fireworks! The rather large one has dug itself into my lower back!" A high and childish voice complained from the back of the rickety farm cart. "Can I seat myself next to you for a few moments or run along beside the horse?"
"I never said you couldn't, Azalynne, just so long as you behave appropriately."
The child nodded and decided to sit next to the Wizard. From what could be seen she was quite small, almost half his size with an innocent round face and big eyes, the colour of the ocean, to match. A few strands of mahogany hair framed the sides of her face nicely while the rest was pulled back into a neat ponytail, reaching her middle back.
She took in her new surroundings, seeing the green of the trees and the blue of the sky as the sun shone down on the two friends. She smiled warmly and stretched her arms above her head, yawning.
The silence began to get to the duo and was soon broken as the elderly man began to hum a tune that he knew Aza enjoyed hearing. One he had learned in the Shire the many years ago that he had visited there. While he hummed she sung along:
"The road goes ever on and on,
Down from the door where it began,
Now far ahead the road has gone,
And I must follow if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet,
And whither then? I cannot say-"
The girl stopped, forgetting the rest that was taught to her but Gandalf continued on by himself. The horse trotted lazily on, shaking its head and snorting every once in a while when the heat began to itch at its fur.
The brunette didn't notice as the cart began to slow and then stop suddenly.
"Gan-?" She was cut off abruptly as a male voice interjected, stating; "You're late," in quite the casual manner.
"We had a time to arrive here?" The child questioned, looking between the two with curious eyes, hoping that someone might answer her question. It, instead, went ignored.
Gandalf then spoke,
"A Wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."
An almost humorous silence fell upon them and a staring competition started between the two males. The younger one, Aza had realized to be quite short (only two heads shorter than she), started to chuckle before bursting into a fit of laughs.
"I don't understand what it is that he finds quite so amusi--" Aza's eyes widened as she had to back flip into the back of the cart again as the small -thing- lunged himself at Gandalf, capturing him in a friendly hug.
"It's wonderful to see you again Gandalf!" The half-man smiled brightly up at the grey haired Wizard, sitting back in the seat which just happened to belong to Aza.
"You didn't think I'd miss your uncle Bilbo's birthday." The old man said, giving Frodo a wide smile.
"What news of the outside world? Tell me everything!"
"There isn't much to tell besides the obvious fact that you have stolen my seat Mr. Small Man!" Aza frowned, giving Frodo the cold shoulder.
"Azalynne Driftwood-" Gandalf said in a warning tone of voice, looking back at her for a mere second with a glare.
"Come now Gandalf, tell!" The Hobbit persisted, remaining unfazed by Aza's sudden comment.
"Everything? You're far too eager and curious for a Hobbit. Most unnatural... What can I tell you? Life in the Wide World goes on, much as it has for this past Age, full of its own comings and goings, scarcely aware of the existence of Hobbits. For which I am very thankful."
As Gandalf said this they entered a small area of buildings, creating what seemed to be a market place. There were many more of these 'half-humans' and most looked up to say hello to the Wizard, who gave a wave back to them.
Most of the conversation was quite a bore to the small girl behind the chattering friends until one particular topic caught her ears. She sat up right to lean against that plank of wood that created the barrier between back and front and the seats back in the cart.
"All right then keep your secrets." Frodo muttered, looking over the older man with a certain fondness in his eyes. "Before you came along, we Bagginses were very well thought of-"
"Indeed," The Wizard mumbled, taking a puff of his pipe.
"-never had any adventures or did anything unexpected."
"If you're referring to the incident with the Dragon, I was barely involved [1]." Gandalf gave a sideways glance to the curly haired boy but the blue eyes showed signs of doubt locked within them. "All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out the door."
"There was a Dragon involved in all of this?" Aza gasped her voice lifting slightly with excitement.
"Nothing you should concern yourself with, Azalynne, continue with your daydreaming." Gandalf said, watching the road ahead.
"I wasn't 'daydreaming', Wizard! Besides, I have nothing to daydream about!" Aza concluded.
Frodo laughed, "Whatever he did, he's been labeled a 'disturber of the peace'."
"Oh really?" Aza smiled, looking at the man to her left.
"Daydream, Aza." Was all the man said as he tried to look away from both their gazes.
A Hobbit by the name of Proudfoot could be seen sweeping the walkway of his small Hobbit Hole, giving a sour look to the three in the passing cart adding to the statement given seconds before about Gandalf's nickname.
As they continued down the road a small group of children hurried along behind them, crying out; "Gandalf! Gandalf is here! GANDALF!"
They seemed to be wanting something though Aza wasn't quite sure what. She gazed up at her old friend with a questioning look.
A set of 'oooh's could be heard from the children as the cart turned up on a small fork in the road. "Fireworks, Gandalf... Gandalf! Fireworks, Gandalf..." They cried, watching as the wooden wagon didn't stop for their request.
Quite suddenly a small set of fireworks went off from beneath Aza's bottom, startling her some as she looked back at the happy faces of the boys and girls. She also looked over to the gate wherein the sour-faced creature from before stood, he now wore a smile and was laughing along with the brood.
But as he did so, who Aza assumed to be, his wife came over from what she was doing, her hands on her hips and a stern look on her face. One look at her and the half-man's smile changed back to that of a glare.
The cart went some ways before slowing near the edge of a small clutter of trees.
"Gandalf- I'm glad you're back." Frodo smiled, standing and hanging off the side of the hunk of wood. Aza watched as he made a jump off and waved over his shoulder.
"So am I, dear boy, so am I." The Wizard muttered more or less to himself. He hadn't noticed the other occupant of the cart jump out as well until her heard her yell,
"I shall see you at the party, old friend! Say hullo to Mr. Bilbo for me!"
"Where are you going, child? You have no idea where anything is!" It was all but true, Azalynne had never been outside of her home country and this was her first real time she had seen the outside world for herself.
"I'm off to see that Hibbot boy! He should show me around enough to let me know where things are!"
"Hobbit, Azalynne, its Ho-bb-it!" Gandalf corrected, calling after the girl. He smiled as she stuck out her tongue and ran in the direction she saw his friend's nephew go.
*
Aza found the Halfling some minute's later standing by a small pond; he seemed to be in deep thought for he didn't hear her sneak up behind him.
"'Qwalryre! [2]" The girl bellowed into the Hobbits ear causing him to jump in surprise and fall into the water. He struggled about for a minute, swallowing a great deal of water in the meantime. The cerulean eyed female began to laugh hysterically, holding her stomach all the while as she watched the pale skinned Halfling climb out of the pond.
"I could have sworn you had consumed a fish while in there!" She choked out, taking his hand and helping him out. Though she was quite small she had a pretty strong grip.
"Oi, who do you think you are to scare someone like that?"
"I know I'm Azalynne Driftwood of the Ralgonnian Clan. A small group of Elves quite secluded from most society."
"You are an Elf?" Frodo stared at her in shock. She was just as big as him yet she claimed to be one of the fairest creatures that roamed Middle Earth!
"Ay, that is what I am. Ear'quessir [3] to be exact! All Elves from Ralgonnia are." She explained, pulling back some of her reddish locks to reveal her Elfish ears. They were most unlike the ears you would see on a normal Wood or Silver Elf for hers were webbed near the end.
"Is that so? Well then, tell me about Ralgonnia, I would like to hear about it!"
"I take it you don't believe me! Fine, I shall tell you. Ralgonnia is a beautiful place, the village homes are made from White Sea stone and so is the Great Palace. The sun is always shining; plants grow green and lush in and around the city. The palace is rather large with a huge garden surrounding it! It's located near the Ocean, naturally, and near the Forest of Caradhras, just over the mountain, you know the one.
Things there are happier and people are treated as equals! Unlike most other places. The king and Queen are really pleasant as well and I could go on but I wish not to bore you."
"You do not bore me, Lady Elf; I just wish to know why I have never heard of such a place."
"There is many a reason for that, you see, because of the invisible gate that surrounds the Ralgonne Area. You would not be able to get in unless you are of true Ralgonnian blood or you have the mark of the King Nathisis, the Great King who created all Sea Elves and founded the Kingdom of Ralgonnia."
"What mark is that?" The smaller brunette asked.
"Why, this one, of course!" Azalynne turned to her side to show him her right arm. There, just below the shoulder, was a small painted mark in three different blues. The mark was of three triangles, one for each of the Elementals that guarded the Kingdom. The points of each met giving the mark an almost star-like look.
(ARN: Think a star with three points!)
"Won't that come off when you swim?" The Hobbit asked, staring at it.
"No, don't be daft! It is pretty much in the skin! Each Ear'quessir is born with this mark, or at least the ones from Ralgonnia. Those who are not truly of that same blood can have the mark embedded in their skin as well so that they can freely pass through the Blue Gates of Ralgonnia."
"Ah, I see but I still cannot believe that you are truly of the ancient Elves. You seem far too young, not any older than eight!" He stated.
"I am no eight-year-old! That I can assure you of! I am seven hundred and thirty-three, thank you! I may be young but I am still an Elf, make no mistake of that!" She barked, bearing her teeth.
"I meant it not to be an insult, I'm sorry."
"I don't see why I should forgive you!" Aza snarled, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Because if you don't then you have no way out of this Wood."
Aza opened her mouth to say something but no sound came out. He was right; she would be lost without him.
"Oh joy, I have been out smarted by a Hibbot- I mean Hobbit!"
"Hibbot?" Frodo chuckled, looking her over again. For someone as young as she, she was quite beautiful. Her eyes seemed to be bewitching, like the Ocean was locked away in their depths never to be let out again.
He now took in every little detail of her. He noted her interesting choice of outfit. She wore a patchwork and sleeveless top that was sewn together with many different materials in the colour of brown. The top reached about five or six inches above her knees and was tucked in under her thick black belt. On her legs she wore what seemed to be thin knit pants made a little too short and hung above her knees as well.
Her feet were festooned with a pair of ankle high brown boots, leaving the rest of her leg exposed to the winds and rain. It looked as if she was more Wood Elf than she was Water Elf. In her belt, however, he saw a small dagger decorated with blue and silver jewels that could only be found by the Ocean.
"Do you mind not staring at me; it's making me rather nervous." She murmured, looking at her feet. The Elf began to bite her lower lip and furrow one of her eyebrows.
"Sorry, I was just noticing something. Your skin, it seems to have some sort of bluish tinge in it."
(ARN: No, she is NOT blue, think normal skin colour! © KuriQuinn for this little line here!)
"Told you I wasn't lying any! I am of full Ear'quessir blood! Nyah, nyah!" She laughed again and then pushed him back into the water.
"Hey! I did nothing to you!"
"I know, it's just so fun to watch you flop around in the water!" She giggled her eyes shining.
She ran off before he had time to blink making her way back to the dirt road that she and Gandalf were following to the other Hobbit's home.
"Um, which way from here?" She asked herself, looking down one way then up the other. "Where did we come from now?"
"I told you I had to show you where to go!" The now recognizable voice of the Halfling choked as he spat out some more of the pond water.
"Oops." She rolled her eyes as he glared at her. She then noticed that he was carrying a wooden bucket full of the same water she had thrown him in.
"You wouldn't," She looked him over once, "you would!" She gave a cry as the water was hurled at her.
"Now we're even! Come; let me show you to my uncle's. There we can dry off and maybe talk some more of this Ralgonnia place you say you come from."
"Don't tell me that after all I have said you STILL don't believe me!"
"I never said that. I just want to know what you know. My friend Sam is very much interested in Elves as am I."
"Sam? Never heard of him."
"Of course you haven't! My, you are quite the character!"
"You have no idea!"
"That and I still don't believe you."
"I knew it..."
*
The party had started at the Sun's Rest and the many Halflings gathered where the party was being held. Music was playing and stories being told as different assortments of foods were set out around three long wooden tables.
The Hobbits danced, laughing and singing along with whatever song was being played at the time.
"Go on Sam, ask Rosie for a dance!" Frodo said in a breathless voice as he just sat down after dancing. Now clean and dry he and Aza decided to get to the party and so far neither of them 'accidentally' spilled any water over the other or anything of the like.
Sam, a small blond headed Hobbit, a little round near the belly, stood, looking down at his empty Ale.
"I think I'll just have another ale." He muttered, making his way over to the large barrel full of the drink. He was grabbed and turned towards the dancing.
"Oh no you don't! Go on!" Frodo, with the help of a certain Elf, pushed the hazel eyed Hobbit into one of the girls who turned out to be just who they wanted.
The two laughed, victorious smiles present on both their faces.
"I'm glad I chose to come along with Gandalf! Had I not I would still be at home with my three sisters!" Aza laughed standing and grabbing Frodo, pulling him into another dance.
On the far side, near the food, sat Bilbo, his grey curls falling over his eyes as he leaned in to tell the story to a group of curious children.
"So there I was, at the mercy of three monstrous trolls. And they were all arguing amongst themselves about how they were going to cook us. Whether it be turned on a spit, or whether they should sit on us one by one, squash us, to jelly [4]."
One of the little ones gasped, bright eyes widening in surprise and fear as to what would happen next.
"They spent so much time arguing; the whitertos and the whyfors that the suns first light crept over the top of the trees -POOF- and turned them all to stone!"
On another side of the party, near the wagon of fireworks two mischievous Hobbits scrambled out from underneath one of the tents.
"Quickly!" One breathed, getting a leg up from the other into the wagon, fingering the fireworks with interest.
"No, no, the big one, big one." The other huffed. The first held up the largest one he could set eyes on, showing it to his companion. The two nodded at one another and the first scrambled out.
A few moments later a great red dragon went soaring into the air leaving two very black faced Hobbits on the ground.
"Bilbo-" Frodo looked around for his uncle. Spotting him he grabbed his shoulders and pulled him along, "Bilbo! Watch out for the Dragon!"
"Dragon? Nonsense, there hasn't been a dragon in these parts for a thousand years!"
The Hobbits crouched low on the ground, keeping away from the 'dragon' that flew over head.
In the distance they saw it go off in, filling the sky with fireworks. They all gave a cheer from their places on the ground, trying to stand and brush themselves off.
"That was good." One of the two troublesome Hobbits muttered.
"Let's get another one!" The other agreed. Just as they were about to make their move they were grabbed by the ears.
"Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. I might've known." A stern voice muttered pulling on the ears of the two.
"There you are Gandalf- who are they?" The familiar voice of Azalynne came all too soon.
"Ah, Aza, there you are, enjoying yourself are you?"
"Er, why yes, I am. So, do you have an idea as to what happened just now?" She asked, looking at the two guilty faces though she was talking to the Wizard.
"These two, that's what happened! Aza, what do you think I should do with them?"
"Dishes?" The child offered, a little uncertain, "You've always like the dishes! You could do that with them!" She smiled.
"I meant punishment for these two alone, but yes, that will do just fine!" And so dishes it was for the two.
"Why would you want to punish them, what they did was magnificent! Quite a good show if I ever did see one!"
"You three would get along fine, I'm sure."
"What do you mean then?" The one named Merry asked, trying as best he could to look up.
"All fun and games for you that I know is true."
"I said I was sorry, Gandalf [5]!" Aza protested. Then there came a sudden burst of cries over in the more lighted area of the party.
Bilbo stood on a barrel, gazing out over the heads of his fellow Hobbits.
"Speech!" They all cheered over and over until he raised his hands to quiet them.
"My dear Bagginses and Boffins!" Cheers could be heard and glasses lifted as the Hobbits of those names were called.
"Tooks and Brandybucks!" More cheers, "Grubbs! Chubbs! Hornblowers! Bolgers! Bracegirdles! And Proudfoots!"
"Proudfeet!" Came the solemn cry over all the cheers and happy shouts.
"Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday!" Bilbo announced.
"Happy Birthday!" The Hobbits cried, lifting their glasses again.
"Alas. Eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live amongst such excellent and admirable Hobbits! I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as much as you deserve!" The Hobbits began to eye one another, trying to figure out if this were a compliment or an insult.
"I, er, I have things to do." Bilbo said, almost inaudible to the people before him. He began fingering around in his pocket, looking for something. Aza gave a half glance towards Gandalf, sensing something wasn't right.
"What is going to happen?" She asked herself in a hushed whisper watching the grey haired Halfling as he put his hands behind his back. She didn't have time to hear the rest of his small announcement before he disappeared right before her very eyes.
"Gandalf!" She cried, running over to the old man, "what is happening? Where did that Hobbit thing go?"
"I have an idea, Azalynne, stay here and wait for Frodo."
"But-"
"Azalynne!"
"Alright, I will but explain to me later for I have a bad feeling about this, Gandalf, I fear for the Hobbit, though I am not sure why..."
Little did she know that this was where her journey beyond the walls of her home would take her and her adventure would begin because of the fate of one young Hobbit.
WHOOPIE! END CHAPTER FREAKIN' ONE! YES, IT IS BORING BUT I SWEAR, IN THE NEXT CHAPTER THERE WILL BE WAY MORE ACTION! IF THE TEXT THINGY HAS GONE ALL WONKIE THEN TELL ME, I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FIX IT, THOUGH, BUT I DID RE-TYPE THIS ENTIRE THING BECAUSE THE SAME THING HAPPENED BEFORE!
ANYWHO, REVIEW OR NO CHAPTER THREE AND FOUR, WITH ALLLLLLLLLLLLL THE ACTION!
Chapter One (1) + Two (2) will be posted together
Chapter Three (3) + Four (4) will also be posted together!
[1]- Gandalf is speaking of the Red Dragon, Smaug the Golden, fought in the book 'The Hobbit' in which Bilbo and a group of Dwarves head out on an adventure for gold. It's a pre-Lord of the Rings for those of you who don't know!
[2]- 'Qwalryre- Ralgonnian Elvish for 'Good day'. I made it up by just jumbling the letters in the Elvish word ''Quelre' which means 'Good day' as well. I also added a few letters and, voila! New word one-O-one!
[3]- Ear'quessir- the Elvish word for Sea Elf.
[4]- The story Bilbo is telling is something from the book 'The Hobbit'. He and the Dwarves decide to pick pocket something from three stupid trolls and then get captured. The trolls wish to eat them but don't know how to cook them. They spend the entire night arguing that they don't notice the sun rise. They then get turned to stone.
[5]- Azalynne did very much the same thing as Merry and Pippin did that night at the party only she ended up blowing Gandalf fifty feet in the air!
© Script for the dialogue that many will recognize from the motion picture 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'. The script is taken from the site following:
http://dreamwater.net/seatofkings/script_fotr_pics.html
Quick summary for the next chapter:
Ch. 2: Many a Night No Longer (Gandalf returns, journey to Bree, Merry + Pippin, Bucklebury Ferry)
Authoress: ChibiTari
Rating: PG/ PG-13
Warnings: Action, OC, humor and hinted romance!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings trilogy, though I wish I did.
Azalynne Driftwood is mine, however, and if you so wish to borrow her then you must ask. Kai belongs to KuriQuinn, Nevorata to my friend Ginny and Lith is owned by Iz. Steph's character, Myranore, is in this as well.
Summary: Azalynne Driftwood decided to protect Frodo with her life but when things become hard, can she keep this promise?
The fic will be very boring in the first two chapters, all it is, is introductions and descriptions. Most of it is taken directly from the script. In the next chapter there will be much more action and way more humor!
Enjoy the fic.
Chapter One (1): Greetings from a World Beyond
The old wooden cart moved steadily on down the worn dirt path as a young brown stallion trotted along, pulling the weight of the wagon along behind him. An elderly man wearing a fading grey robe was seated in the front, pulling on the reigns whenever necessary. He had a long white beard and hair the same colour that peaked out from underneath a long pointed hat, the shade identical to that of his robe.
"Gandalf, please, tell me we've reached this Shire place! My bottom is sore from the many an hour it has spent seated on these fireworks! The rather large one has dug itself into my lower back!" A high and childish voice complained from the back of the rickety farm cart. "Can I seat myself next to you for a few moments or run along beside the horse?"
"I never said you couldn't, Azalynne, just so long as you behave appropriately."
The child nodded and decided to sit next to the Wizard. From what could be seen she was quite small, almost half his size with an innocent round face and big eyes, the colour of the ocean, to match. A few strands of mahogany hair framed the sides of her face nicely while the rest was pulled back into a neat ponytail, reaching her middle back.
She took in her new surroundings, seeing the green of the trees and the blue of the sky as the sun shone down on the two friends. She smiled warmly and stretched her arms above her head, yawning.
The silence began to get to the duo and was soon broken as the elderly man began to hum a tune that he knew Aza enjoyed hearing. One he had learned in the Shire the many years ago that he had visited there. While he hummed she sung along:
"The road goes ever on and on,
Down from the door where it began,
Now far ahead the road has gone,
And I must follow if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet,
And whither then? I cannot say-"
The girl stopped, forgetting the rest that was taught to her but Gandalf continued on by himself. The horse trotted lazily on, shaking its head and snorting every once in a while when the heat began to itch at its fur.
The brunette didn't notice as the cart began to slow and then stop suddenly.
"Gan-?" She was cut off abruptly as a male voice interjected, stating; "You're late," in quite the casual manner.
"We had a time to arrive here?" The child questioned, looking between the two with curious eyes, hoping that someone might answer her question. It, instead, went ignored.
Gandalf then spoke,
"A Wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."
An almost humorous silence fell upon them and a staring competition started between the two males. The younger one, Aza had realized to be quite short (only two heads shorter than she), started to chuckle before bursting into a fit of laughs.
"I don't understand what it is that he finds quite so amusi--" Aza's eyes widened as she had to back flip into the back of the cart again as the small -thing- lunged himself at Gandalf, capturing him in a friendly hug.
"It's wonderful to see you again Gandalf!" The half-man smiled brightly up at the grey haired Wizard, sitting back in the seat which just happened to belong to Aza.
"You didn't think I'd miss your uncle Bilbo's birthday." The old man said, giving Frodo a wide smile.
"What news of the outside world? Tell me everything!"
"There isn't much to tell besides the obvious fact that you have stolen my seat Mr. Small Man!" Aza frowned, giving Frodo the cold shoulder.
"Azalynne Driftwood-" Gandalf said in a warning tone of voice, looking back at her for a mere second with a glare.
"Come now Gandalf, tell!" The Hobbit persisted, remaining unfazed by Aza's sudden comment.
"Everything? You're far too eager and curious for a Hobbit. Most unnatural... What can I tell you? Life in the Wide World goes on, much as it has for this past Age, full of its own comings and goings, scarcely aware of the existence of Hobbits. For which I am very thankful."
As Gandalf said this they entered a small area of buildings, creating what seemed to be a market place. There were many more of these 'half-humans' and most looked up to say hello to the Wizard, who gave a wave back to them.
Most of the conversation was quite a bore to the small girl behind the chattering friends until one particular topic caught her ears. She sat up right to lean against that plank of wood that created the barrier between back and front and the seats back in the cart.
"All right then keep your secrets." Frodo muttered, looking over the older man with a certain fondness in his eyes. "Before you came along, we Bagginses were very well thought of-"
"Indeed," The Wizard mumbled, taking a puff of his pipe.
"-never had any adventures or did anything unexpected."
"If you're referring to the incident with the Dragon, I was barely involved [1]." Gandalf gave a sideways glance to the curly haired boy but the blue eyes showed signs of doubt locked within them. "All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out the door."
"There was a Dragon involved in all of this?" Aza gasped her voice lifting slightly with excitement.
"Nothing you should concern yourself with, Azalynne, continue with your daydreaming." Gandalf said, watching the road ahead.
"I wasn't 'daydreaming', Wizard! Besides, I have nothing to daydream about!" Aza concluded.
Frodo laughed, "Whatever he did, he's been labeled a 'disturber of the peace'."
"Oh really?" Aza smiled, looking at the man to her left.
"Daydream, Aza." Was all the man said as he tried to look away from both their gazes.
A Hobbit by the name of Proudfoot could be seen sweeping the walkway of his small Hobbit Hole, giving a sour look to the three in the passing cart adding to the statement given seconds before about Gandalf's nickname.
As they continued down the road a small group of children hurried along behind them, crying out; "Gandalf! Gandalf is here! GANDALF!"
They seemed to be wanting something though Aza wasn't quite sure what. She gazed up at her old friend with a questioning look.
A set of 'oooh's could be heard from the children as the cart turned up on a small fork in the road. "Fireworks, Gandalf... Gandalf! Fireworks, Gandalf..." They cried, watching as the wooden wagon didn't stop for their request.
Quite suddenly a small set of fireworks went off from beneath Aza's bottom, startling her some as she looked back at the happy faces of the boys and girls. She also looked over to the gate wherein the sour-faced creature from before stood, he now wore a smile and was laughing along with the brood.
But as he did so, who Aza assumed to be, his wife came over from what she was doing, her hands on her hips and a stern look on her face. One look at her and the half-man's smile changed back to that of a glare.
The cart went some ways before slowing near the edge of a small clutter of trees.
"Gandalf- I'm glad you're back." Frodo smiled, standing and hanging off the side of the hunk of wood. Aza watched as he made a jump off and waved over his shoulder.
"So am I, dear boy, so am I." The Wizard muttered more or less to himself. He hadn't noticed the other occupant of the cart jump out as well until her heard her yell,
"I shall see you at the party, old friend! Say hullo to Mr. Bilbo for me!"
"Where are you going, child? You have no idea where anything is!" It was all but true, Azalynne had never been outside of her home country and this was her first real time she had seen the outside world for herself.
"I'm off to see that Hibbot boy! He should show me around enough to let me know where things are!"
"Hobbit, Azalynne, its Ho-bb-it!" Gandalf corrected, calling after the girl. He smiled as she stuck out her tongue and ran in the direction she saw his friend's nephew go.
*
Aza found the Halfling some minute's later standing by a small pond; he seemed to be in deep thought for he didn't hear her sneak up behind him.
"'Qwalryre! [2]" The girl bellowed into the Hobbits ear causing him to jump in surprise and fall into the water. He struggled about for a minute, swallowing a great deal of water in the meantime. The cerulean eyed female began to laugh hysterically, holding her stomach all the while as she watched the pale skinned Halfling climb out of the pond.
"I could have sworn you had consumed a fish while in there!" She choked out, taking his hand and helping him out. Though she was quite small she had a pretty strong grip.
"Oi, who do you think you are to scare someone like that?"
"I know I'm Azalynne Driftwood of the Ralgonnian Clan. A small group of Elves quite secluded from most society."
"You are an Elf?" Frodo stared at her in shock. She was just as big as him yet she claimed to be one of the fairest creatures that roamed Middle Earth!
"Ay, that is what I am. Ear'quessir [3] to be exact! All Elves from Ralgonnia are." She explained, pulling back some of her reddish locks to reveal her Elfish ears. They were most unlike the ears you would see on a normal Wood or Silver Elf for hers were webbed near the end.
"Is that so? Well then, tell me about Ralgonnia, I would like to hear about it!"
"I take it you don't believe me! Fine, I shall tell you. Ralgonnia is a beautiful place, the village homes are made from White Sea stone and so is the Great Palace. The sun is always shining; plants grow green and lush in and around the city. The palace is rather large with a huge garden surrounding it! It's located near the Ocean, naturally, and near the Forest of Caradhras, just over the mountain, you know the one.
Things there are happier and people are treated as equals! Unlike most other places. The king and Queen are really pleasant as well and I could go on but I wish not to bore you."
"You do not bore me, Lady Elf; I just wish to know why I have never heard of such a place."
"There is many a reason for that, you see, because of the invisible gate that surrounds the Ralgonne Area. You would not be able to get in unless you are of true Ralgonnian blood or you have the mark of the King Nathisis, the Great King who created all Sea Elves and founded the Kingdom of Ralgonnia."
"What mark is that?" The smaller brunette asked.
"Why, this one, of course!" Azalynne turned to her side to show him her right arm. There, just below the shoulder, was a small painted mark in three different blues. The mark was of three triangles, one for each of the Elementals that guarded the Kingdom. The points of each met giving the mark an almost star-like look.
(ARN: Think a star with three points!)
"Won't that come off when you swim?" The Hobbit asked, staring at it.
"No, don't be daft! It is pretty much in the skin! Each Ear'quessir is born with this mark, or at least the ones from Ralgonnia. Those who are not truly of that same blood can have the mark embedded in their skin as well so that they can freely pass through the Blue Gates of Ralgonnia."
"Ah, I see but I still cannot believe that you are truly of the ancient Elves. You seem far too young, not any older than eight!" He stated.
"I am no eight-year-old! That I can assure you of! I am seven hundred and thirty-three, thank you! I may be young but I am still an Elf, make no mistake of that!" She barked, bearing her teeth.
"I meant it not to be an insult, I'm sorry."
"I don't see why I should forgive you!" Aza snarled, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Because if you don't then you have no way out of this Wood."
Aza opened her mouth to say something but no sound came out. He was right; she would be lost without him.
"Oh joy, I have been out smarted by a Hibbot- I mean Hobbit!"
"Hibbot?" Frodo chuckled, looking her over again. For someone as young as she, she was quite beautiful. Her eyes seemed to be bewitching, like the Ocean was locked away in their depths never to be let out again.
He now took in every little detail of her. He noted her interesting choice of outfit. She wore a patchwork and sleeveless top that was sewn together with many different materials in the colour of brown. The top reached about five or six inches above her knees and was tucked in under her thick black belt. On her legs she wore what seemed to be thin knit pants made a little too short and hung above her knees as well.
Her feet were festooned with a pair of ankle high brown boots, leaving the rest of her leg exposed to the winds and rain. It looked as if she was more Wood Elf than she was Water Elf. In her belt, however, he saw a small dagger decorated with blue and silver jewels that could only be found by the Ocean.
"Do you mind not staring at me; it's making me rather nervous." She murmured, looking at her feet. The Elf began to bite her lower lip and furrow one of her eyebrows.
"Sorry, I was just noticing something. Your skin, it seems to have some sort of bluish tinge in it."
(ARN: No, she is NOT blue, think normal skin colour! © KuriQuinn for this little line here!)
"Told you I wasn't lying any! I am of full Ear'quessir blood! Nyah, nyah!" She laughed again and then pushed him back into the water.
"Hey! I did nothing to you!"
"I know, it's just so fun to watch you flop around in the water!" She giggled her eyes shining.
She ran off before he had time to blink making her way back to the dirt road that she and Gandalf were following to the other Hobbit's home.
"Um, which way from here?" She asked herself, looking down one way then up the other. "Where did we come from now?"
"I told you I had to show you where to go!" The now recognizable voice of the Halfling choked as he spat out some more of the pond water.
"Oops." She rolled her eyes as he glared at her. She then noticed that he was carrying a wooden bucket full of the same water she had thrown him in.
"You wouldn't," She looked him over once, "you would!" She gave a cry as the water was hurled at her.
"Now we're even! Come; let me show you to my uncle's. There we can dry off and maybe talk some more of this Ralgonnia place you say you come from."
"Don't tell me that after all I have said you STILL don't believe me!"
"I never said that. I just want to know what you know. My friend Sam is very much interested in Elves as am I."
"Sam? Never heard of him."
"Of course you haven't! My, you are quite the character!"
"You have no idea!"
"That and I still don't believe you."
"I knew it..."
*
The party had started at the Sun's Rest and the many Halflings gathered where the party was being held. Music was playing and stories being told as different assortments of foods were set out around three long wooden tables.
The Hobbits danced, laughing and singing along with whatever song was being played at the time.
"Go on Sam, ask Rosie for a dance!" Frodo said in a breathless voice as he just sat down after dancing. Now clean and dry he and Aza decided to get to the party and so far neither of them 'accidentally' spilled any water over the other or anything of the like.
Sam, a small blond headed Hobbit, a little round near the belly, stood, looking down at his empty Ale.
"I think I'll just have another ale." He muttered, making his way over to the large barrel full of the drink. He was grabbed and turned towards the dancing.
"Oh no you don't! Go on!" Frodo, with the help of a certain Elf, pushed the hazel eyed Hobbit into one of the girls who turned out to be just who they wanted.
The two laughed, victorious smiles present on both their faces.
"I'm glad I chose to come along with Gandalf! Had I not I would still be at home with my three sisters!" Aza laughed standing and grabbing Frodo, pulling him into another dance.
On the far side, near the food, sat Bilbo, his grey curls falling over his eyes as he leaned in to tell the story to a group of curious children.
"So there I was, at the mercy of three monstrous trolls. And they were all arguing amongst themselves about how they were going to cook us. Whether it be turned on a spit, or whether they should sit on us one by one, squash us, to jelly [4]."
One of the little ones gasped, bright eyes widening in surprise and fear as to what would happen next.
"They spent so much time arguing; the whitertos and the whyfors that the suns first light crept over the top of the trees -POOF- and turned them all to stone!"
On another side of the party, near the wagon of fireworks two mischievous Hobbits scrambled out from underneath one of the tents.
"Quickly!" One breathed, getting a leg up from the other into the wagon, fingering the fireworks with interest.
"No, no, the big one, big one." The other huffed. The first held up the largest one he could set eyes on, showing it to his companion. The two nodded at one another and the first scrambled out.
A few moments later a great red dragon went soaring into the air leaving two very black faced Hobbits on the ground.
"Bilbo-" Frodo looked around for his uncle. Spotting him he grabbed his shoulders and pulled him along, "Bilbo! Watch out for the Dragon!"
"Dragon? Nonsense, there hasn't been a dragon in these parts for a thousand years!"
The Hobbits crouched low on the ground, keeping away from the 'dragon' that flew over head.
In the distance they saw it go off in, filling the sky with fireworks. They all gave a cheer from their places on the ground, trying to stand and brush themselves off.
"That was good." One of the two troublesome Hobbits muttered.
"Let's get another one!" The other agreed. Just as they were about to make their move they were grabbed by the ears.
"Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. I might've known." A stern voice muttered pulling on the ears of the two.
"There you are Gandalf- who are they?" The familiar voice of Azalynne came all too soon.
"Ah, Aza, there you are, enjoying yourself are you?"
"Er, why yes, I am. So, do you have an idea as to what happened just now?" She asked, looking at the two guilty faces though she was talking to the Wizard.
"These two, that's what happened! Aza, what do you think I should do with them?"
"Dishes?" The child offered, a little uncertain, "You've always like the dishes! You could do that with them!" She smiled.
"I meant punishment for these two alone, but yes, that will do just fine!" And so dishes it was for the two.
"Why would you want to punish them, what they did was magnificent! Quite a good show if I ever did see one!"
"You three would get along fine, I'm sure."
"What do you mean then?" The one named Merry asked, trying as best he could to look up.
"All fun and games for you that I know is true."
"I said I was sorry, Gandalf [5]!" Aza protested. Then there came a sudden burst of cries over in the more lighted area of the party.
Bilbo stood on a barrel, gazing out over the heads of his fellow Hobbits.
"Speech!" They all cheered over and over until he raised his hands to quiet them.
"My dear Bagginses and Boffins!" Cheers could be heard and glasses lifted as the Hobbits of those names were called.
"Tooks and Brandybucks!" More cheers, "Grubbs! Chubbs! Hornblowers! Bolgers! Bracegirdles! And Proudfoots!"
"Proudfeet!" Came the solemn cry over all the cheers and happy shouts.
"Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday!" Bilbo announced.
"Happy Birthday!" The Hobbits cried, lifting their glasses again.
"Alas. Eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live amongst such excellent and admirable Hobbits! I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as much as you deserve!" The Hobbits began to eye one another, trying to figure out if this were a compliment or an insult.
"I, er, I have things to do." Bilbo said, almost inaudible to the people before him. He began fingering around in his pocket, looking for something. Aza gave a half glance towards Gandalf, sensing something wasn't right.
"What is going to happen?" She asked herself in a hushed whisper watching the grey haired Halfling as he put his hands behind his back. She didn't have time to hear the rest of his small announcement before he disappeared right before her very eyes.
"Gandalf!" She cried, running over to the old man, "what is happening? Where did that Hobbit thing go?"
"I have an idea, Azalynne, stay here and wait for Frodo."
"But-"
"Azalynne!"
"Alright, I will but explain to me later for I have a bad feeling about this, Gandalf, I fear for the Hobbit, though I am not sure why..."
Little did she know that this was where her journey beyond the walls of her home would take her and her adventure would begin because of the fate of one young Hobbit.
WHOOPIE! END CHAPTER FREAKIN' ONE! YES, IT IS BORING BUT I SWEAR, IN THE NEXT CHAPTER THERE WILL BE WAY MORE ACTION! IF THE TEXT THINGY HAS GONE ALL WONKIE THEN TELL ME, I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FIX IT, THOUGH, BUT I DID RE-TYPE THIS ENTIRE THING BECAUSE THE SAME THING HAPPENED BEFORE!
ANYWHO, REVIEW OR NO CHAPTER THREE AND FOUR, WITH ALLLLLLLLLLLLL THE ACTION!
Chapter One (1) + Two (2) will be posted together
Chapter Three (3) + Four (4) will also be posted together!
[1]- Gandalf is speaking of the Red Dragon, Smaug the Golden, fought in the book 'The Hobbit' in which Bilbo and a group of Dwarves head out on an adventure for gold. It's a pre-Lord of the Rings for those of you who don't know!
[2]- 'Qwalryre- Ralgonnian Elvish for 'Good day'. I made it up by just jumbling the letters in the Elvish word ''Quelre' which means 'Good day' as well. I also added a few letters and, voila! New word one-O-one!
[3]- Ear'quessir- the Elvish word for Sea Elf.
[4]- The story Bilbo is telling is something from the book 'The Hobbit'. He and the Dwarves decide to pick pocket something from three stupid trolls and then get captured. The trolls wish to eat them but don't know how to cook them. They spend the entire night arguing that they don't notice the sun rise. They then get turned to stone.
[5]- Azalynne did very much the same thing as Merry and Pippin did that night at the party only she ended up blowing Gandalf fifty feet in the air!
© Script for the dialogue that many will recognize from the motion picture 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'. The script is taken from the site following:
http://dreamwater.net/seatofkings/script_fotr_pics.html
Quick summary for the next chapter:
Ch. 2: Many a Night No Longer (Gandalf returns, journey to Bree, Merry + Pippin, Bucklebury Ferry)