Athëa - Queen of the Savages

The Way to Mordor is Left

The cool night was still lingering in the air as the fellowship stood at the gates of Rivendell. Golden leaves filled the ground in the courtyard, sending warning of the winter to come, as if the trees were sad that the elves were soon to leave Middle Earth.

The elves still left in Rivendell, had come to the gates to bid the fellowship farewell. Arwen stood in their midst watching the dark haired ranger, as he left her side to join the others.

Aragorn had told her that this might be the last time they would meet, since he was going on the quest to destroy the one ring with a slim chance of his return. And if he were to return, she would be long gone to the Undying Lands.

Though the odds weren't in their favor, deep in her heart she knew that she would see her ranger again.

Lord Elrond bid the fellowship farewell, and they bowed in respect of the elven lord.

"The Fellowship awaits the ring bearer", Gandalf said, making Frodo know that the companionship were to follow him.

Frodo's surprised look was soon followed by pride. He straightened his back and began walking towards the gate. The Fellowship followed the small figure as he passed the walls of Rivendell.

"Which way to Mordor, Gandalf? Left or Right?" the hobbit whispered, not wanting to let the rest of the fellowship know of his uncertainty.

"Left", Gandalf replied silently while lowering his chin to the small figure in front of him. A friendly smile presented itself on his face, as the hobbit once again found his dignity and walked onwards.

Legolas smirked and shared a mischievous glance with Athëa. Though they were walking in the back furthest away from Frodo, their elven ears had caught the uncertain words of the hobbit.

"Gandalf tells me that you are from Rivendell, my lady" Legolas stated. "But if that is so, how come I have never met nor heard of you?"

"I left a long time ago, and it has therefor been many moons since i called Rivendell my home", Athëa replied.

A knot tangled in the pit of her stomach, sadness filling her heart. But she did not let it show to the elven prince, for she knew Gandalf was right. It was not her story to tell Legolas. He would not understand, was he to hear it from her lips. Murderer he would call her. A coward, a traitor and a murderer.

"Of course she is from Rivendell. No other elvish realm could have she-elfs as beautiful as her", Sam said without a doubt i his voice.

Athëa turned to look at the hobbit behind her. He was of similar height to Frodo and the two other hobbits, but a bit chubbier. His hair was golden and curled, and his cheeks were scarlet. He was holding the reins of the pony Bill and both the small horse and the small hobbit bore a vast amount of pots, pans and enough food to feed an entire army.

Athëa knew of the appetite of hobbits and their love of food, and couldn't help but grin at the sight of the amount of supplies on Sam's tiny frame.

"Of course... I have never met a she-elf from any other realm". Embarrassed of his own words he broke his eye contact with the elleth and looked down on his shoes instead.

Gimli laughed hard and heartfelt. "My dear hobbit", he said shaking his head. "All elves are fair and feminine. Even the men! They all look as fragile as women and Eru forbid that their pretty hair were to get tangled during a fight", he stated comically, while glancing at Legolas. 

"No my dear hobbit, Elves are not as strong as they are portrayed. Dwarfs on the other hand, they are strong as horses and fearless in battle!" Gimli continued proud.

"And their men and women also look very much alike; short in stature, broad shoulders and heavy beards" Legolas carried on with Gimli's caricatured portrayal, looking displeased at the dwarf. The rest of the fellowship couldn't help but laugh at their bicker. 

Gimli huffed under his beard, and Athëa struggled to hold back her grin as the dwarf passed her and walked up to Gandalf in the front of the fellowship.

Boromir stopped abruptly, turned and looked at Athëa with a confused look on his face, as if he remembered something. Athëa continued, walking closer and closer to the man from Gondor.

He bore a long sword and a shield. If you had any doubt in your mind as from where this man came from, you should only take a look at the white tree of Gondor that he bore proudly on his chest and his shield. Athëa passed where Boromir stood and he followed by her side.

"If you have not been in Rivendell for many years and the Mirkwood prince have not heard of you, then where have you traveled for all these years?", he asked the elleth suspiciously.

"Here and there", she answered insignificantly, while looking with caution at the man walking next to her. He couldn't remember her, could he?

He was but a mere boy when their paths had crossed some twenty years before. The young man and his troop had been attacked by a pack of orcs a days travel to the east of Gondor. A pack of orcs that Athëa and her men had been following for weeks, trying to find from where they originated.

Athëa had ordered her men not to interfear with the attack, and await for the orcs to continue their journey, in order for them to complete the quest at hand. At the same time it was of upmost importance not to reveal the existence of the men of The Hidden City nor their purpose.

But in the very last minutes of the battle she could no longer bear the agonizing sound of the dying Gondorians and ordered her men to come to their aid. Slaughtering the orcs with speed and agility, Athëas warriors finished the battle mere seconds after they had entered it.

Only three men of Gondor and the young Boromir had survived the attack. When they returned to The White City, they referred to their saviors as "Savages".

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So now the fellowship is getting to know each other, but of course there is much more to the elleth than meets the eye ;-)

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The next chapter is almost finished and will be uploaded in the next couple of days.

To all you inhabitants of Middle Earth, I bid you a very nice sunday!

- nindeanin