My travels are often lonely. There is naught for companions besides my trusty steed or for sight of a weary traveler every so often. And though I do not mind the quiet, after so many years on my own, somtimes I would wish for a friend to travel beside. For millenia, my duty to the Lady Galadriel has taken my on endless paths through the lands of my kin or otherwise. And my duty calls for secrecy when I am on the road.
But would I prefer to be alone on these journeys? I do not know. I have been alone for so many years, that I could not imagine sharing my journey with another. The world is changing, and with it perhaps so are my sense of normalcy. For I met the most peculiar of man after having left Bree.....
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Nothing but the gentle fall of rain and the soft 'clip-clop' of the dark steed could be heard for miles. The elf, dressed in muddied armour holds the reign tightly, urging her steed on faster down the road. Dusk was approaching, and the cold rain was making the journey more miserable than it already was. Her own fiery hair flies behind her as they quickly make their way east.
Just as she was getting ready to guider her horse into a gallop, a small flicker of flame caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. Linnuiel pulled her horse to a stop and her eyes focussed upon what looked to be a campfire.
'Goblins?' She wonders as she hops down from the horse, patting it gently on it's flank. 'I have heard that goblins now occupy these lands..."
Moving swiftly but quietly through the tall reeds of the marsh, moving ever closer to the campfire. As the tall elf approached, she sighed in relief, not finding any goblins. But a man sat on the other side of the fire.
'But though he is no goblin or foul creature, that does not mean I may trust him.' The elf reminds herself.
Making the decision to stay silent and invisible for several moments longer, she draws herself behind a tree to keep observing the man. Luck, it seems, was not on her side. For just in that moment, her foot stepped upon a branch on the ground. With a resounding 'crack' the branch breaks and the man immediately moved to be on alert, hand on his sword.
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I have not often been graceful, an unfortunate trait that many of my kind would raise an eyebrow at. Others would find me awkward and odd for my behavior. And it seems at times like this, it did not do me well. At least so I though, at first. Now I hold an opinion much different.
Of course I stumbled my way through an apology to this man. And he, once seeing that I was of nor harm to him either, introduced himself as Edhellaer, ranger of the north. I suppose that meeting him upon the road was not quite impossible. And he seemed not worried that an elf as I was traveling these lands.
He warned of the dangers my traveling the East Road would bring. I was miffed at first. For have I not been traveling the same path hundreds of times over just in the past age? Did he really think I was incapable of taking care of myself? I suppose my annoyance stemmed from the fact that others have said similar things in the past.
But this ranger, Edhellaer, explained his reasoning and I must agree with him, though my want was not to. He was kind enough and gave reasons that I should consider a different route.
Was I on duty from the lady? Yes.
Was I carrying secretive and confidential information? Yes. (I should not have admitted to this, now that I think about it.)
Would the chances of the enemy getting their hands on the messages I carried greater, were I to take the road? Absolutely.
So though weary, when an offer of an escort through the lone lands and to the last bridge was mentioned, I took it.
And so proceeded quite the eventful journey. I have not traveled with a companion in ages. And the thought of traveling with a ranger, even stranger to my mind.
He was knowledgeable, as I should have expected of a ranger. Edhellaer made our journey swift, for my mission was of great importance. But we also were safe and ignored by any creatures that might have been lurking. Though I sense something foul happening upon the peak of Amon Sul. I have sense enough to believe that the enemy was present. We did not stop to find out if my assumptions were correct. But I shall bring word to the Lord Elrond in Imladris, pleading for help for the Lone Lands.
That is all that was asked of me in exchange for the protection I received on my journey. And so our journey came to an unexpectedly swift end. Though I hesitate to admit it, he was right to worry about how my journey would have fared, had I taken the east road to the bridge.
We parted ways, for he must return to his kin, and I to mine. But I have a feeling this will not be the last we see of each other. For the world grows dark, and our list of allies thinner.
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The elf heaves a great sigh of relief as they cross the bridge.
"Luck was on our side. And you have been a most gracious escort. The Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel will hear of your kind service. And if time and resources are to be spared, you will find aid when you most need it."
The man, who had stopped at the halfway point of the bridge responds. "I cannot thank you enough enough for such great a reward, though I would urge you to ask these things in the name of all my kinsmen, for I know they would have done the same and I am but one man."
With a smirk, the elf continues. "Then I shall speak of both you and your kinsmen, hir."
'Nírë tulë i lumessë autielyo, bain Linnuiel. May the Valar bless the hidden path you ride on.' The ranger says in farewell.
The elf in turn speaks her own. "Namarie Hir Edhellaer. Silo in elin erin bad lin. May a star shine upon your path. And may we meet again." And with that, she gallops off into the lands behind, with narry a look back.
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