Caverns are damp and dreary...

After a week of scuttling around in caverns and cave's, I can count myself, with good conscience, an expert on life underground. And I can quite happily state, that it is a BORE! There is no sun or flowers, or green grass to tickle your feet!
I don't understand dwarves, methinks!
Merewan has continued on with her stubborn silence on the Muted Orcs, and has not deigned to explain to us how the orcs have been changing, nor why. She holds out on her excuse that Olorin will explain all when he returns. I cannot help but to dislike this action. It makes me feel like a child! Isilindil feels much the same, but I think that she has had better luck with Merewan's disparaging comments than I have. Perhaps this has to do with matters of height...

I hear Isilindil calling me off in the distance. Reluctantly, I pick myself off from the ground and and make my way through the winding corridors until I glimpse the circular room that has become the meeting place.
Knowing that there will be nothing more interesting to discuss than the food rationing and potato peeling duty, I switch my brain off and give myself leave to daydream, letting my mind roam the green and golden fields of the Shire. I sigh, thinking of my Uncle Sam, enjoying himself in the sweet, warm, sunshine.
- Ruby Burrows

Meetings with the Muted

I scuttled along sideways through the thin hallways that led to the cavernous meeting room. Here we where to meet with Mernwen and the orcs, or the strange Muted Orcs as I called them - muted around their hardness, and soft and almost Evish they had become.

I kicked a stone and listened to its fading echoes bounce back to me. PLINK PLONK. It had hit a puddle  I emerged from the tunnel too small for anyone else.

'Ruby!' Isilindil looked delighted to see me - I could understand, the orcs were very off putting.

'So glad you could make it, we are about to show you why you have been summoned here'. The raspy voice of a Muted Orc emerged from the shadows, and he stepped forth, dragging a bundle of cloth which seemed to be writhing slowly in his hands.

'Look well, elf and hobit'. He cast the cloth to the floor, and it opened to reveal a small elf, almost a child. Pointed ears emerged from raven hair, and smooth skin showed bellow the tunic.

And then, the elf child looked up.

Surrounding bright, green eyes, was the thuggish face of an orc - with voluptuous lips and a delicate nose. It scowled up at us.

'It is the Orc, Elf, Child' The Muted Orc explained. 'This one was the first to change. We are all changing.' 

Isilindil and I exchanged galnces, and then looked down at the Orc - Elf - Child again.

'Changing!'. I shuddered.

Merenwen spoke up, "With the darkness that is beginging to crawl through these lands it's effects have not been entirely evil," she paused, "It has so far left alone the Orc's, and as time passes and they are not under an evil influence they have begun to," Merenwen paused again, "change. What this all means we do not know, our hopes are that eventually they will take again their compleate forms as elves, from which they came. But that is but a wild hope."

"Are you sure they are trustworthy?" Isilindil exclaimed. 


"That is a risk we must take, and you needn't look so disgusted at them." Merenwen reproved.

"Well if there is no other choice then there is no disuccsion which needs to be done I suppose." I said. "I suppose Orc allies  are better then no allies."

"Hardly!" Isilindil cried. 

"Enough!" Merenwen said, "You are here and therefore under my command."

"Who gives you commands?" I asked

"Olorin, through messengers," Merenwen continued, "The plan is to stay here until Olorin arrives, then we will decide what is to be done against the evil." 

-Ruby Burrows. 

DOWN

Unfortunately, due to storms and the fact that Ruby and I are deep in the caverns of Moria, we will be unable to continue posting till this Thursday. Make sure and check back on the 27th though!

~Isilindil Telperien 

Orc Allies

Darkness fondly embraced us with uncanny  effortlessness.  Ruby and I made our way as carefully as we could, clasping at the rock walls.

"I wonder why Olorin sent us here." Ruby remarked.

"I do not know but he must have had some purpose. For some reason my heart finds no cause to doubt him." I replied although I felt little in the mood to talk.

"An odd fellow he is. Something about his eyes sort of captures you doesn't it?" Ruby said.

"Yes, a gleam of light seems to always peer out under his eyebrows. Ah careful, here there is a chasm before us." I cried.

Stepping over it Ruby and I continued on in blind darkness, having no idea where we were headed.

"Stop! Who goes there?" a gravely voice rasped and spiked hands griped at my throat.

"Elf Isilindil Telperien and hobbit companion Ruby Burrows, we were sent by Olorin." I gasped.

A light shone forth as a creature unveiled a lantern which was rudely shoved in our faces. Ruby cried out for the creature was an Orc. Yet his face seemed softer, if softer it can be said of one so rough.

"We are glad to see you two, we have waited long for your arrival." The Orc remarked. "Follow me, this way."

The spiked hands released their grasp and we began following the Orc cautiously, seeing there was no other choice. Reflected eyes flashed a few feet away as we were lead through a wide passage, of what sort I know not for the light of the lantern was but little.

Eventually we entered a short, wide room, apparently a room which was once used for counsels. Standing at one end was a large Orc dressed in a leopard skin. Beside the Orc stood a tall woman who glided towards us.

"My name is Merenwen, I am from Gondor. Like you I was sent to Moria by Olorin, although that was many weeks ago." she smiled, "Do not be afraid of these Orcs for they will not hurt you. Indeed we are one in our cause. You should consider them your closest Allies as of now."


~Isilindil Telperien 

Rivendell & Refusal

Ranewan and Olorin reached Rivendell as I was later to learn, without trouble. Olorin met with Gontorion immediately upon their arrival but Ranewan declined the offer to join their counsel and instead walked through the valley watching the elfs work desperately to complete as much as was possible before nightfall. He offered to help but the elf's kindly refused Ranewan's offer as they knew he was quite tired from his long journey.

Olorin meanwhile was ensconced in thought whilst a restless Gontorion passed around him.

"But why wouldn't I have forbid anyone to leave Rivendell?" demanded Gontorion, "It was for the good of the elves, and probably all of Middle Earth."

"It  was for no such thing!" rumbled Olorin, "You were merely afraid of perishing before reaching the Grey Havens." His eyebrows slowly raised. "Yes. Yes I know you have been planning to go to leave Middle Earth for some time. You know no evil is allowed to enter that land. No bitterness of heart or desperate actions can lead you to it's pearl shores."

Gontorion paused, and like a young birch tree he swayed slightly upon his feet before leaving the make-shift tent.

"A curse upon these elves. No sense. No sense at all. Oh well, one must make do." Olorin sighed and taking out of a leather pouch a long pipe he began to puff like a very tall pot-bellied stove.

_____________________________________

Cape thrown carelessly over his shoulder Brundt journeyed towards Rivendell singing a song. It was low and barely audible except to the groundhogs who occasionally poked their heads out of their dark doors to hear the spicy sweet melody.

With only two more days before reaching Rivendell Brundt's thoughts had little time to wander. Indeed other then his concern for Ruby and I he thought little. He knew that there was no way he could have changed our fate but his heart still yearned to have been able to be there with us. We who were now quite lost in the shafts of Moria. Brundt knew not of our curious guide who was leading us at the very moment to the heart of Moria to meet the Orc chieftain.


~Isilindil Telperien 

Through the Rock Doors

Traveling West we came upon the great doors of Moria. There was little talk between Brundt, Ruby and I. What was there to talk about? Brundt lead the way carefully and quickly, Ruby and I were willing followers. After a week of travel we came upon the doors after treading round a dried up lake. My mind wandered back to when the Company traveled here so long ago, Gandalf had been with them then. They would certainly have not survived if it had not been for him. I began to think about Gandalf, how I missed his quick temper and his joy in taking people by surprise. He was always one who enjoyed putting people off balance, got quite the amusement from it in fact.  I remember saying goodbye to him in Rivendell. I was there visiting when he came along with the Company, that is, all but Boromir.

New rock doors lay hid in the wall and for a moment I feared we would have the same problem as the company so long ago. I looked at Ruby, she shrugged and I knew that she did not know the password. I was tempted to speak the elvis word 'mellon' which was the word which opened the doors long ago. Yet I knew it would be in vain as these were clearly new doors and I felt new, stronger spells of closure then could be opened by the word of a friend.

"Wanwie sina annon aa' n'uma goth suula" (Past this door may no enemy breath ) Brundt said quietly and he stepped away from the doors. "Place your hand Isilindil by the athelas flower in the center. There, barely visible." He pointed, "And you Ruby, Place your hand next to it so that both hands are inside the flower and touching."

Brundt then retreated several feet away from the door. I looked behind me in consternation, giving him a questioning look.

"It was as Olorin was afraid, and as I was. I cannot pass these gates." he paused and he seemed to grow, but I could not tell if it was the moonlight that tricked my eyes. "They will not. They will not understand. The spells cast upon this door makes it so that it may read descent and not heart." Brundt looked up  confused as if he did not understand his own words.

"So then you are not coming with us?" Ruby gasped and our eyes meet in confusion.

Brundt calmly responded, "I cannot."

"What shall we do when we enter the gates!?" I questioned "I have never been here before and I do not know what clue we are looking for. Indeed I know not why we are even here, nor the evil, if evil it be, we stand up against."

"I do not know what you will find beyond those gates and I do not know why Olorin had us come here. He must have known that I could not have entered." Brundt looked up again as he was beginning to do more and more often.

"What will you do?" Ruby asked, "Where shall you go?"

"Why to see if I can meet with Olorin and Ranewan in Rivendell. There I shall counsel with them." Brundt's voice was steady.

The great rock doors distracted us for a moment as they began to swing slowly open.

"Do not remove your hands or you risk being killed as they will rush together once your hands are removed!" shouted Brundt.

"Oh I wish Gandalf were here. Or one of the Wise which have long left this land!" Ruby cried.

I silently agreed with her and turned my head to see Brundt smiling, waving his hand as we entered Moria. Once inside we removed our hands and jumped forward as the doors clanged shut upon Brundt, the light of day and to us it seemed, upon any chance of survival.

~Isilindil Telperien 

Plans and Separation

I laid out on the sweet smelling grass of the forest next to Ruby. She was sleeping peacefully and on the other side of the campfire Ranewan and Brundt were resting at an amusing distance from each other. I believe that they have not quite gotten over the circumstance of their first meeting. At least it seems so for Ranewan. 

Olorin sat up against a tree with his eyes closed, although I could not tell if sleep had taken him. 

Hearing a slight burning noise I sat up quickly, the others seemed oblivious to the noise. Looking around I saw a shade pass over the ground, like an ordinary shadow and yet as it round through the forest it left behind a bitter scent and appeared to melt certain of the ordinary, plain plants. As it came to a small group of wildflowers happily dancing a waltz it appeared to 'stand' up over them. For some reason my heart was clenched in fear and I could not call out to the others although my heart agonized for some strange reason of the flowers, so unaware of their impending doom. Yet as I watched the dark shadow dove at the flowers but was instantly repulsed repeatedly. Eventually It retreated and I found my voice after gasping several times. 

"Olorin!" I did not think at the time how odd it was that I should call Olorin out of the four. "Olorin! Olorin!" 

Olorin rose like an oak and was by my side in an instant. The others woke in a more human-like manner along with plenteous yawning and lots of confused looks around. 

"What is it Isilindil?" Olorin asked "What did you see?" 

"There was a shadow," I found the air did not come quickly to my lungs, "it crept throughout the forest leaving a foul stench and it burned some of the more ordinary plants and shrubs  It tried to devour those wildflowers there, but it could not." I began to find breathing more easy. 

"It has not grown into it's full strength. Yes. It is as I was afraid." Olorin exclaimed, "Ranewan you shall travel with me to Rivendell to see Gontorion. Brundt you shall go with Ruby and Isilindil to," he paused, "To Moria, it may be that you find a clue there. And yet it has been so long ..." his voice trailed off. 

"A clue to what?" Ruby questioned "I don't understand this at all!" 

"Neither do I, and yet this is what my heart counsels me to do. We must continue on in faith." Olorin glanced down. 

"Please let me stay with Isilindil, I would like to know that she is safe." Ranewan looked at Olorin. 

"No. Most definitely not. I understand why you want to go with her." he peered at Ranewan sharply and Ranewan hurriedly looked away. "But she will be no safer with you then without you so it's settled. No buts!" 

"We should go immediately  I doubt that sleep shall find us anymore this night." Brundt quietly remarked. 

"Quiet right you are! Farewell Ruby, Isilindil, Brundt. Keep them safe." Olorin lifted his large eyebrows at Brundt and a slight smile spread across Brundts face in acknowledgement. 

~Isilindil Telperien 

Olórin Lays A Trail

I had finished telling this strange sorcerer about my story - how I had come to be in Mirkwood, when the strange boy with no name entered the clearing again. Except he was different. He was two inches taller than before, and had grown a small beard.

"Hello - Wha-?" I glanced from him to Olórin, speechless.

"Oh, Ruby, I'm sorry I forgot to tell you" he seemed quite unperturbed by what had happened to his charge "You see, he suffers from a rare condition, indeed I have never heard nor seen it before, which makes him age differently. I have conducted my tests and trails - and about now I would say that he is, by human years, twenty-two. When you first met him he was around nineteen. I do not know what causes this different sort of aging, he is unlike any creature I have ever encountered both on this world and others..." he dwindled off, muttering to himself.

"But I am twenty two now, and you may treat me accordingly, as that is now my age." the man nodded towards Olórin and I, gesturing at himself.

"I'm sorry...Sir... but what am I to call you?" I stammered a bit, still thrown off by this rather 'sudden' turning of events.

"Oh..." he seemed quite taken aback. Olórin seemed to be amused by my asking.
"I don't know yet."

"I guess I'll just think of something when I get to know you, then. But for now, I'll call you... Hmm... how about Brundt?"

"Brundt. Very blunt name. But I guess it'll have to do for now" He smiled a bit when he said his new name.

Olórin left us chatting and walked off into the undergrowth again, he looked aback at us with a twitch of his head, nodded to himself and left.
And I felt perfectly safe. But I couldn't just forget about Isilindil. I did not know what had happened to her or the company of elves we had been travelling with. Leaving Olórin to follow our trail, Brundt and I set off along the path further into Mirkwood, hoping to find some clue as to where the elves had gone.


Further away, Olórin had his head to the ground, listening to the trees and the plants. He detected Islindil and Ranewan, entering into the forest, and as fast as a bird, he began to weave spells. He cast spells of scent, which alerted the elves to the trail of Ruby, and spells of finding, which the elves soon picked up on but did not realize it. Following them, they soon came to where Ruby and Brundt had been walking.

_________________________________

"I see two steps have passed here - she has someone with her. That, or someone has taken her somewhere." Ranewan was bent on the ground, picking up the trail of the Hobbit. Ruby had not bothered to be extremely cautious, which was good for the elves to follow. Unfortunately, Isilindil worried that it would make her trail visible to others whose intents weren't as noble as theirs.
She nodded her head briskly at Ranewans words, and continued along the path, searching for Ruby.
_________________________________

We had just come to a small, sallow stream running by the path, when I heard voices from behind us. Grabbing Brundt, I ran into the underbrush off the path, praying for Olórin to come back soon.
I shivered. It was evening and a chill had stole through the trees. Brundt looked straight ahead, his entire body tensed like a spring.
"Two steps have passed here..." I heard the voices again - they sounded strange and unearthly, yet so familiar. I struggled to place them.

Just then, two shadows emerged onto the path. They were long and lithe. Bellowing like an Oliphant, Brundt sprung onto the path and accosted the tallest shadow just when I had realized who was talking - it was an elf!
I emerged onto the path, and glimpsed Isilindil's shocked face, and then Brundt and another elf were there, tussling and tossing on the ground, oblivious of Isilindils shouts for stop, and my foot kicking at Brundt to get his attention. 
Then they were standing, and the elf had taken a long sword from a scabbard by his side. Brundt eyed him warily. The elf ran forward, but paused in shock just before stabbing Brundt. Brundt had just shot up another inch, and this allowed him the upper hand. Brundt leaped on the elf, and they crashed to the floor.

"Stop!" Isilindil's voice rang as clear as a diamond bell, and Brundt stopped hitting the elf.

"Brundt. It;s alright they're friends." Brundt allowed the elf to get up, and he dusted himself off eyeing the elf with a slight look of dislike. 

Isilindil glanced at me, and then we rushed towards each other and hugged.

"I'm so sorry, Ruby! I've been so worried!" she exclaimed. 

"So have I. But at least your here now. There are people I want you to meet." 

We embraced, and soon we had make camp to wait for Olórin, while we told each other of all that had befallen us. Brundt and Ranewan meanwhile had dropped their aggressive glances and had become slightly cordial. 

-Ruby Burrows

 

Back to Mirkwood

"Ranewan what are you doing here?" I demanded angrily and in great fear I looked around expecting to find myself surrounded. 

"Isilindil calm yourself." Ranewan's voice was quiet. "I have not journeyed after you with such haste these past four days for the purpose of bringing you back again."

I gazed at him with ill favor as his joke struck a dull cord within me. And yet as I watched he did not smile or alter his serious and honest expression. 

"You're serious?" I gasped "You are actually going to help me disobey Gontorion's orders?" 

This was not the law abiding, faithful and unbending Ranewan that I had known all of my life- he interrupted my hurried thoughts.

"I am not going to help you disobey anyone's orders." he looked down "But I do not believe in abandoning a helpless hobbit girl to die simply because one is frightened of the unknown. It is true that one fears what one knows not of, so to conquer this evil and fear we must first learn of what sort it is. That is why I came to find you."

"Well then, shall we away?" I questioned  "What route do you suggest we take?"

Ranewan looked to the sky for a moment and then replied "We should  go toward Eregion then ride between the mountains on the hidden path where we shall then turn North to Mirkwood's upper edge. That is where we will begin our search."

____________________________________

"Now if you will go and hunt us down a rabbit maybe we will have something a little more suitable to offer this dear lady." Orion's voice was warm and friendly and a twinkly of amusement sparkled in his eyes as he ordered the man in dark green britches off.

"Wait!" Ruby cried as the man began striding off into the forest with a bow slung over his shoulder.

The instinct of a healer and guilt had flooded her and without further thought she ripped a strip of her petticoat off and dipping it in the merry stream which winded halfway round their 'camp' she bound it around his bleeding hand.

"Sorry for biting you," Ruby hesitated and looked up regretfully, if she was to survive in these great woods she would need friends and biting one of them  was not a great start.

The man smiled at her and remarked "Fear not my friend for I have survived many worse wounds than these with little trouble." he winked and having his hand bandaged turned and quickly was lost to sight.


"Well  now that he," began Orion.

Ruby interrupted, "What is his name?"


"Do you know I have no memory of his name," the old man gave an odd laugh. "But as I was saying, now that he is gone we can have a proper talk and you maybe could tell me what a hobbit does here by herself far from safety even in these 'peaceful' times?"

"Well it all started when I met an elf,"

 Orion interrupted me saying,  "An elf you say. Hmm, and what was her name?" he lifted his eyebrows questioningly

"Isilindil Telperien. She's a wood elf." Ruby chirped

"So this is why I have been sent .... ahhh it makes sense. Yes. To help the inevitable. To help these two. Yes this is the hobbit I was sent to aide, and the elf she speaks off must be the chosen elf friend. Yes. It was written in the sky's so. "  Orion muttered under his breath.

"I am sorry Sir but what are you mumbling about? I am afraid that I can't understand you." Ruby remarked.

"Oh no matter, just thinking you know." Orion smiled "Well that's that.  Ah yes it's perfect. Don't you think its a lovely day?'


Orion pulled out a pipe and taking three large puffs he laid back smiling. Ruby continued her story and smoke rings flitted towards the treetops in rhythm.


~
Isilindil Telperien 

Isilindil departs and Ruby is befriended

The horses soon disappeared over the horizon, carrying their riders with the effortless riders of elves - which they were carrying. the elves journey on towards the smoking ruins of Rivendell, alit with the blazes of campfires dotted around the ruins, where the elves were staying while it was being rebuilt.

The only way, thought Isilindil, that Ruby could've wandered off by herself is if she was tricked - or lost control of her mind by an evil sorcerer. That, or she was kidnapped by some foul beast! This would never of happened if we hadn't embarked on this stupid adventure to Rivendell! Oh, everything seems so stupid now that I look back upon its happenings - I could've prevented it all from happening! Whatever has harmed Ruby, I vow to rescue her and to have vengeance upon those who have kidnapped her!

With this in mind, Isilindil began gathering her supplies together to prepare for the long journey alone back to Mirkwood - although she was still enrolled in helping Rivendell to be rebuilt. It was the only other task that occupied her mind, along with rescuing Ruby, and it was the only thing that turned her grim look happy once in a while - although it was a guilty happiness all the same.

Gontorion had forbidden all the elves under his control to leave Rivendell for fear of the threat that still held sway over the lands - but in a weeks course, Isilindil had mounted her horse and was a couple of miles away from Rivendell already.

Which was when her horse stopped stock still and nickered frightfully.

"Who's there?" Isilindil asked, her voice not betraying a flicker of emotion.

"It is I" And out from the shadows by the path, stepped Ranewan, a strange expression upon his unreadable face.
-

Meanwhile, deep in the leafy expanses of Mirkwood, I lay upon the ground, dazed, but retaining control of my senses slowly.
A figure strode up to me. He was obviously male, and quite well built, proof of a life of hard work and little respite. He wore dark green breeches and a long grey tunic, and his face was shadowed under a brown hood. His stance spoke of assurance and confidence, and his movements showed grace and determination.

"Here" He helped me to sit up, and gave me a log to lean on.
"Eat this. It will help with the headache." He handed me a piece of bread, which was strangely pungent and had a faint greenish tinge on it, as if it were slightly moldy.
As soon as I had taken a bite, I realised my situation. I jumped up and was about to ran off, when he grabbed my shoulders and held me there, his hands digging in to the sides of my neck. Unfortunately for him, he didn't think that I would continue struggling, so I turned my head and bit his hand, and when he yelped I ran off into the underbrush, shouting for Isilindil.

Until I bumped into a tall man in robes of an indefinite colour.
"Well, well, well. Our little guest has woken at last." He harrumphed gently, peering down at me from under his enormous eyebrows.
"Wh-who are you?" I was surprised, and frightened to tell the truth. I thought the worst had happened.
"Now there's a question! Who am I? Well, to you I'm one who would help. Quite simply, a friend to those in need, along with my companion here." he gestured to the man in the clearing "But you may know me as Olórin." He smiled, and I knew that I could trust him, even though I still had no idea who he was. And yet his eye's had a friendly sheen to them which I felt I knew and loved. 


~
Ruby Burrows 

Middle Earth Scarf

Never get lost again traveling Middle Earth with this trusty scarf. Not only is it fashionable, it is also very useful in a pinch!  (Link Below Photo) 

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/122908300/lord-of-the-rings-middle-earth-infinity?ref=cat1_gallery_15

Confusion in Mirkwood and Ruby Disappears

Gontorien came out of a counsel-one I was not invited to- and they had decided to go to Mirkwood and meet the Orc Army. I thought it was a foolish decision as Rivendell had been saved and was currently in the process of being rebuilt under careful guard. I believed it would be better if we sent back-up to the elves in Rivendell till the survivors, if any, were found. But Gontorion would not be swayed and we headed to Mirkwood.

Riding we journeyed over Rhovanion, otherwise known as The Brown Lands. This course took us along the west side of Mirkwood, passing by Dur Gulder. At last we reached our destination, the very west/north corner of Mirkwood from where there was a safe path so that we could take our enemy by surprise whom we were told were encamped currently along the north rim of Mirkwood.

"Isilindil!" a voice called me back into reality and I was ordered to dismount as Gontorion wished to see me. Ruby begged to come but I was in a foul mood and shook off her pleadings.


"Isilindil, scouts have been sent out to view the enemy and ..." Gontorions voice trailed away and a nearby scout piped up.

"The Orc's are dead, all of them. We thought it may have been poison as there was no sign of physical wounds, in fact when we first came upon them we thought they were merely all asleep."


"Tis a deep evil that lies here and I think it best we journey back to Rivendell as Isilindil you first counseled me two weeks ago. Would that one of the greater elfs were here for I fear I cannot perceive that which is the best path. You may go now Isilindil."

With sorrow misting my heart I walked back to my horse and looked about for my friend as I was in need of comfort amid the confusion of my mind.

"Where is Ruby?" I asked a nearby elf-archer.

"I do not know, I saw her ride through those trees over there," he pointed to a dark clustered group of pines "And she has not returned."

I quickly ran over to the trees calling Ruby's name loudly. The alarm sounded throughout the army and soon many voices were heard calling Ruby's name, but no response came back to our eagerly listening ears.

Gontorion blew a crystal note upon a horn and silence fell. He strode angrily towards me and firmly grasping my shoulder he demanded why I should cause such a commotion when our army could be in mortal danger.

"Ruby." I gasped, "Ruby is gone, disappeared."

"Well then that way she must stay as we cannot wait for her and we cannot stay here." Gontorion's voice was merciless.

"No, you can't!" I pleaded.

But there was steel in Gontorion's eyes and he mounted his horse and turned the army round about as we headed West to Rivendell.

Behind us in the shadows Ruby lay unconscious surrounded by black foliage which now was twisted around her waist,a tall white figure bent over her, a dark look clouding his brow.

The Battle at Lothlorien... And I take my first life...

Isilindil and I paced back and forth in the hallways between Gontorion’s Armoury and the ‘barracks’. These were simply beautifully made rooms where the army would fire out their arrows at whatever impending doom was marching towards Lothlorien.

Of course, we had no idea what this ‘impending doom’ was. Yet.

After the course of an hour, Gontorion summoned us to the Armoury, and bade us choose our weapons quickly.

Of course, I was already armed with the dagger that I keep in my boot, and was wearing the mithril shirt underneath my clothing. But I had not told Isilindil of that yet, as it is in my hobbit opinion that the best secrets are best kept secrets, even unto those that you trust the most.

But I have not yet mentioned my sword – I pulled it out of the sheath that was hung from my back – I prefer to pull it over the shoulder in fighting, and to have the hilt resting on my right shoulder by my neck is the perfect placement for me. This sword was bequeathed to my Uncle Sam by a dear dwarven friend (although I’m told the blade is elvish), after his great journey to Mordor with Frodo the Ringbearer. However, my uncle had never used it, and gave it to me when I was a child, wishing that I got used to it’s feel in my hand and learn to swing a sword properly. However, I had never put it to proper use until today.

“Do you wish to be armed, Hobbit?” Gontorion gazed down at me, his words tickling the wisps of hair on the crown of my head.

“I’m already armed, sir.” I replied as courteously as possible, which is difficult when someone refers to you simply by ‘Hobbit’.

“I’ve known Ruby to have excellent weapons, and I’m told by her uncle that the blade is of elvish make itself.” That was Isilindil, vouching for my weapons.

As Isilindil chose for herself more arrows with which to fill her quiver I wandered around rooms of the Armory, gazing at the racks of gleaming blades and stacks of arrows. Eventually, I found myself completely lost within all the sheer threat and viciousness of it all. It was a bit overwhelming.

That was when I came to a room full of bottles.

I kid you not; I was in a room of bottles. There were big ones and small ones, tall ones and round ones. Translucent ones and opaque ones, and ones that didn’t seem to be there at all, but which gave on strange shadows which quivered on the walls behind the places that they seems to be. There were pones of all colours and ones darker than pitch black.

It all seemed very strange. Eventually, my eyes alit upon the strangeness part of this room, which was an old woman, round eared and grey, asleep in a corner of the room. I had overlooked her before, as her dress resembled sackcloth and her grey hair was worn in dreadnoughts which fell over and disguised her features so it was almost as if she were a sack of greying potatoes, if not for her bare feet which poked out of the dress and were lying on the floor, gathering dust in my opinion.

I coughed rather loudly to get this woman’s attention. But she remained as she was, silent and still, so I took some of the bottles, which I later identified as the most evil and potent potions, and scurried, away from the room back to Isilindil. She had just finished selecting her arrows when I burst in and landed in a heap.

“Where have you been? Gontorion just spotted an orc scout rushing away from the forest!”

“I saw a-“ But I was cut short as Gontorion swept into the room and began ordering us for the battle. He paused and explained to me that a contingent of two hundred orcs had been spotted entering the outskirts of the west side of the forest.

“Strange…” He muttered under his breath “that so few should come…. We are more that a match for them… They must be a distraction, but they shall have to be dealt with…”

So he ordered about more than two hundred elves, including Isilindil and I, to go and root out these orcs from the leafy paths of Lothlorien, while he stayed there to keep watch for the main army, which he was sure would appear.

We marched though the gathering dusk to meet the orcs, all of us as silent as we could be. I used all of my hobbit skill I had to avoid making the slightest amount of noise, and the only things that I heard were the far off grunts and shouts of the orcs, their attempts at being stealthy.

Half an hour later, we had them surrounded.

Then, after I had drawn my blade, Isilindil and the other elves had rushed towards the orcs, shouting war cries and screaming revenge. White-hot anger was painted on their brows as they beheld the orcs milling around the trees in confusion.

I leaped after them mimicking their sounds. I hacked at the knee of an orc, and was shocked as my blade bit straight to the bone. I glimpsed it glowing blue, almost as if it were relishing the taste of orc blood after so long.

The sound around me was unbearable, and I was caught up in the midst of it, a little hobbit, lost fighting orcs with the elves, I gutted an orc as he rushed towards me, his warm blood spurted across my face and I grimaced with disgust. I glimpsed Isilindil fending off an attack from three orcs at once. She skewered one in the eye with her blade, then swung the dead orc into his companions, winding them and giving her the chance to decapitate one and hobble the other before finishing him off. Then she was lost again as she leaped to find another enemy.

I returned my attention to the battle before me. Just in time, as an orc had come up behind me and was about to stab me in the back before I turned around and stabbed his ankle, causing him to jump back and I lunged forward and skewered his elbow, hot blood running down my blade. He fell to the ground, and bringing my sword up, I chopped him as I had done many times with logs. I turned away from him to focus on my next attacker, and heard his body fall to the ground. First one half, then the other.  After taking my first life, a red haze took over my eyesight and I darted among the orcs, shouting, stabbing and killing, if I remember correctly.  The last thing that I remembered was the wail of on orc as I stabbed him through the mouth, before I blacked out.

I woke up drenched in sweat and blood. I must not have been out for long. I glanced around me and saw Isilindil striding towards me, with a grim look on her face. She pulled me to my feet, and I winced as i suddenly felt the pain of dozens of bruises and a long gash across my left cheek. Luckily, I only had a few minor injuries and a deep wound on my kneecap, which bleed tears of blood when I put my weight on it. Isilindil looked unharmed and solemn.

“What’s happened?” I heard the fear in my own voice as I asked her.

“Gontorion has found the army of orcs,” she replied “And they are headed straight for Mirkwood.”

-Ruby Burrows

Show Them Your Loyalty and Honor

Remembering the valiant quest which took place so long ago ... this may be difficult for you if are a hobbit and never really payed much attention to such stories except as fairy-tales. Fear not my dear -and probably still angry at me-hobbits, for now you may purchase this Fellowship of the Ring mug and every morning be reminded of the loving sacrifice these Nine paid to Middle Earth. 

IIe Ier Late
   "You are honored"

http://www.etsy.com/listing/100742876/fellowship-of-the-ring-coffee-mug

"Remember to check http://themiddleearthdaily.blogspot.com/ again tomorrow as the adventure continues while Lothlorien sends soldiers to Rivendell, Ruby finds herself in the midst of a fight and Isilindil bids Ranewan farewell as he goes with the brave Elf warriors to battle." 

~
Isilindil Telperien