The Lady of Rivendell

Chapter 5

It seemed to be a walk that never ended as they left Rivendell and followed the lead of Gandalf. Through the forests, across the plains and over the lands of Middle Earth they walked, only a single horse to carry the majority of their belongings and supplies. For 40 days they were to trudge on, west of the Misty Mountains to the Gap of Rohan that Gandalf hoped would be open to them. There, they would turn east to Mordor.

For now, though, they made camp atop a rocky cliffside as Boromir sought to teach these little Hobbits how to defend themselves in battle.

"Your Highness?" called a voice and Allora turned as she smiled at the Hobbit who was holding out a plate filled with a bit of bread and some sausages for her.

"Thank you, Sam. And please, we are on a quest that will likely result in our deaths, you needn't with such formalities. Allora is fine."

"Of course, Your Hi- Allora."

And she gave him a kind smile as she sat down next to Aragorn and watched the training.

"Move your feet," Aragorn called as Pippin held his own before Merry joined in.

"Faster," Boromir urged, the Hobbits well aware that he was taking it easy on them.

"Please, if they go any faster, they will topple over their feet. They need a steady foundation before they learn speed," Allora spoke between bites.

"Forgive me, Your Highness," Boromir said, "but there is no place to be slow in battle. If you have been in so many, I would think you know that."

"Easy, Boromir," Aragorn warned. "The Lady Allora is not one you would want to face on the battlefield," he said.

Allora stood slowly, her swords strapped to her hips, her bow, quiver and longsword strapped around her torso, having discarded her cloak, her bright blue eyes deadly as she beheld the human.

"It is preciously my prolonged experience to battle that I advise you to teach foundational skills. For speed and arrogance will sooner kill them than not knowing the basic skills of how to use a sword. And for the record, I have no need to prove my experience to you, Boromir, for I know who will emerge victorious if we clash."

And with that, the Lady of Rivendell rose to her feet as she moved away from the edge, plate in hand, towards where Gandalf, Legolas and Gimli were conversing.

"Legolas," she called as she presented him with the plate, wishing to share the food with him.

"Thank you, Milady," he said with a grin as he took a sausage and they listened to Gimli grumble.

"If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not, I'd say we were taking the long way round. Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin, Balin, would give us a royal welcome," he insisted as the two Elves rolled their eyes as they continued to eat.

"No, Gimli, I will not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice," Gandalf replied before Allora's ears tensed as they heard something.

"Milady?" Legolas asked as she handed him the plate and moved to jump up onto a rock as she stared at the clouds, straining her eyes and ears. Gimli was still grumbling as Legolas set the plate down and jumped up beside Allora, Gandalf being the only one to notice the two.

"Do you hear what I hear?" she asked in Elvish, not wanting to alert anyone yet.

"Flapping," he replied.

"I cannot see it just yet."

"They hide in the cover of the clouds. Lots of them."

Boromir and two of the Hobbits were laughing as they tussled on the ground and a dark shape began to move through the clouds.