Journey’s End

Chapter 3

Many Meetings

***Dream***

I was vaguely aware that I was dreaming, and I was also vaguely aware that this dream was a memory. I was seven again, lying in my bed in Rivendell. There was darkness all around me. I felt strangely calm, until all at once, a flash of lightning illuminated my bedroom and a huge rumble of thunder rolled towards me. I shook in fear and held back a scream, shrinking back under the sheets. I stayed there, frozen in terror, until the next rumble of thunder. I sprang from the bed and sprinted from the room. I dashed barefoot down the dark, deserted hallway, my white nightgown fluttering as I ran. I sped up as another flash of lightning lit the hallway, finally reaching the door I had been looking for. I knocked softly, flinching as a crash of thunder seemed to shake the whole building.

“Who is it?” A voice called from inside.

“Estel it’s me, please let me in!” I cried, tears of fear beginning to roll down my cheeks. The door opened and a sleepy-looking Estel stood staring at me.

“Rana? What’s the matter?” He mumbled. I flinched as lightning flashed in the room behind him. “Here, come in.” He murmured, rubbing his eyes and ushering me into the room. As soon as he closed the door behind him, he pulled me into a tight hug. It had been two months since my father died, and Estel and I had been growing closer ever since. “Are you afraid of the storm?” He whispered as I buried my head in his chest. I nodded slowly and he sighed. “There’s nothing to be afraid of, I’ll show you.” He gently released me from his embrace and took my hand, leading me over to the balcony on one side of the room. I shied away from the rain that fell heavily onto the floor and then ran over the edge of the balcony, onto the ground below. He pulled several blankets off his bed and sat me down on the floor, not far from where the rain fell. He sat down beside me and wrapped the blankets around the both of us. I pressed myself against his warm body and instantly felt safer as he wrapped one arm around my shoulders.

“Look.” He whispered, pointing to where a bolt of lightning struck the courtyard, closely followed by a rumble of thunder. I huddled a little closer to him, but still watched in fascination. “You’re safe in here, there’s no need to be scared of a storm.”

I nodded and smiled a little.

“Hannon le…” I murmured drowsily in my newly-learned Elvish, wiping the tears from my face. I didn’t know why I had been afraid, but somehow, after sitting down and watching the storm with Estel, I no longer felt frightened. It was almost nice to sit here with him, knowing I was safe. I yawned and let my head drop onto his shoulder. Through my closed eyelids I could see the flashes of lightning, and hear the low rumbles of the thunder, but they were becoming less frequent, and sounded further away.

“The storm is passing.” Estel whispered, but I barely heard him as I drifted off to sleep.

***Back to Reality***

I yawned and rolled over, blinking in the morning sun. It had been late when Aragorn and I had finished talking last night, so I had slept late. Yawning again, I scrambled out of my bed and stretched. I hoped Frodo would be awake today; I was impatient for the council to be held. Walking over to my desk I found my jug of water had been refilled, and beside it my clothes were laid, folded and clean. I smiled and splashed my face with the cold water to wake myself up, before stepping out onto the balcony of my room. My balcony did not look down onto the courtyard, but instead onto a part of Rivendell that served as an orchard. It was a part of the forest where fruit trees grew wild, and a small stream wound its way through the trees. I looked down and saw a figure walking along the edge of the steam. It was unmistakeably the Lady Arwen.

I watched as she walked out of sight into the trees. We had never been particularly close when I was a child, mostly because she was hundreds of years older than I was… And also because as we grew older, she became completely infatuated with Aragorn! (Or Estel, as I knew him then). I knew she had never liked how close we were, but thankfully he had never paid much attention to her. When I was little I used to be jealous of her beauty. I was just a perfectly plain human. But as I grew up I began to realise that I didn’t care anymore. I preferred dressing and acting like a boy anyway.

Sighing, I turned back inside and pulled of my nightgown, redressing in my normal, un-feminine clothes. I left my sword leaning against the wall, but concealed my long hunting knife in a subtle sheath that was attached to the back of my belt. I never felt totally safe unless I was armed in some way. I walked out the door and made my way down towards the healing quarters, where Frodo slept.

As I approached his door, I heard voices inside, so I knocked softly.

“Come in!” Two elderly voices cried in unison.

I opened the door and smiled warmly at the two people who sat by Frodo’s bedside.

“Gandalf! Bilbo!” I cried happily, embracing them in turn as they stood to greet me. It was strange, as Gandalf was so much taller than me, and Bilbo was so much shorter!

“Rana my dear! What are you doing here?” Bilbo enquired, sitting back down.

“By ‘here’ do you mean this room? Or do you mean Rivendell?” I smirked.

“Sharp as a pin, just like always!” Bilbo chuckled.

“Why don’t you answer both?” Gandalf advised me.

“Well, I’m in Rivendell because I was summoned by Lord Elrond, and I’m in this room because I wanted to see if Frodo was awake yet!”

They both nodded at my brief explanation.

“Unfortunately, he is not awake, as of yet. But I sense he will wake soon.” Gandalf murmured. I nodded, looking over at the unconscious Hobbit. He looked less pale today, and he was breathing deeper. I tried not to let myself look at the ring, but my eyes fleetingly passed it, and it felt like my heart got a little heavier.

“I see…” I mumbled, looking down at the floor. My stomach growled all of a sudden, making me blush and laugh. “Well, I must be on my way!” I grinned, patting my stomach, “Breakfast awaits!”

***

After eating, I decided to take a walk. I hadn’t seen Aragorn all morning, so I figured if he wanted to talk to me, he could come and find me. I wandered over to the orchard beneath my balcony, but as I approached I thought I could hear voices.

“Pip! Get down! You’ll break your neck!”

“I can almost reach it!”

“Well hurry up! We’re probably not supposed to be doing this!”

My curiosity flared, and I slipped behind a tree. I poked my head around the trunk and nearly laughed out loud when I saw the two Hobbits. One, who had light brown hair stood at the foot of a tall tree, while the other –who had slightly darker hair- was sitting quite happily on one of the thicker branches of the tree, reaching upwards with one hand towards a particularly large apple. His fingertip brushed it and he wobbled a little, which caused the one who stood on the ground to fret.

“Settle down Merry!” The one in the tree called, “I’ve almost got it!” He bounced a little on his branch and reached upwards, snatching the apple off the branch.

“There!” He cried victoriously, holding it above his head. “Now, don’t eat it while I climb down!” He said, tossing the apple to the one who seemed to be called Merry, but he overshot his mark and the apple bounced away. I decided that this was a good enough moment to reveal myself. Casually walking over to where the apple lay, I picked it up, and with a flick of my wrist, threw it to a startled-looking Merry.

“Who’re you?” He asked, catching the apple.

“I could ask you the same question, Master Hobbit.” I smirked, leaning my back against a tree and folding my arms. During this brief introduction, the other Hobbit had successfully reached the ground. I could now see he was a little taller than Merry was.

“Who’s that Merry?” He asked.

“I don’t know!” Merry hissed, sounding agitated.

“Greetings my Lady! My name is Perigrin Took!” The taller Hobbit said, stepping forward and bowing extravagantly. “Or Pippin, if you like.” He added as an afterthought. I smiled as the other one also stepped forward.

“And my name is Meriadoc Brandybuck, but everyone calls me Merry.” He bowed also, sweeping the arm that held the apple out to the side. Pippin then plucked the apple from his grasp and bit into it.

“So, who’re you?” He asked, with his mouth full.

“Pip! Chew!” Merry hissed, elbowing him in the ribs.

“Oops…” Pippin muttered.

“My name is Rana Aranel, of the Dúnedain.” I gave my full name and courtesy title, along with a small bow.

“Are you a Ranger?” Merry asked. I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.

“Well… I suppose I am.” I mumbled.

“Really?” Pippin cried excitedly, “We know a Ranger! His name is Strider! I think he’s around here somewhere…” He trailed off, looking around as if he expected Aragorn to drop out of one of the trees. I smiled to myself;

Of course, these must be two of Frodo’s companions!

“I know him well.” I murmured softly, still smiling. Aragorn wouldn’t have told them who he really was yet, and it was not my place to reveal his secret. “Would I be right in saying that to two fine gentlemen would be the companions of a Mr. Frodo Baggins?” I enquired. They both nodded.

“Yes, but he’s resting right now, he was badly wounded…” Merry mumbled sadly. I smiled sympathetically.

“Maybe you should go check on him; I hear he was expected to wake up today!” I tried you use a cheery tone to brighten the mood; surprisingly, it worked.

“Yes Merry! Let’s go visit Frodo!” Pippin cried, seeming to spring to life. He grabbed Merry’s hand and pulled him away. “See you later Rana!” He called as they both disappeared into the building. I laughed and slowly followed them inside.