Chapter Four: Vie for Authority

*“So she has a name, she isn’t just an apparition.” Legolas joked, a light smirk playing upon his lips. It had been long since he had felt so complete. And smiling helped.

“Yes.” Sam nodded seriously.

“Don’t fear halflings. There is smoke from a fire just beyond. While we have been talking, the fair maiden had been working.” Aragon smiled.

“She does that all the time. She’s like that…” Frodo answered quietly. The mood somewhat darkened for a short time. Then Gimli spoke.

“Well, if she has got a fire going, I’m going to sit by it and warm my bones.” The mood lightened again and the friends walked to the fire. Seeing them coming, Serein stood to her full height. Having already washing her face and cleaning her cut, not to mention placing her blue cloak over her shoulders, she made a large impression on the incoming crowd.

“Hello again, travelers.” She greeted them, slightly bowing her head.

“Serein, these are our friends. The human is Aragon, the wizard is Gandalf, the dwarf is Gimli, and the elf if Legolas.” Frodo began.

“And Aragon, Gimli, Gandalf, Legolas, this is Serein. She saved us from orcs in a bar, and has promised to take us across the mountains.” Sam finished.

“An honor to meet you, maiden.” Gandalf stated, a smile coming to his thin lips.

“Yes. Thank you for caring for our friends.” Aragon greeted her.

“You have kept them alive, I thank you greatly.” Gimli nodded.

“My Lady, it is a pleasure to see such a fair maiden can hold her own, and that of her friends as well.” Legolas took Serein’s hands and kissed the backs. Quickly she pulled her hands away, but not before blushing a slight scarlet.

“Enough of the flattery. I’m covered in orc blood and guts below this cloak. It really isn’t appropriate for my mood.” She gave no hint of her comment being humorous, save her eyes, which danced with mirth and mystery. Frodo and Sam, used to her unusual humor began to laugh. The others stood in slight awe. But they caught on quick enough and soon were smiling as well.

“Please, sit. If Frodo and Sam trust you, then I will give you a chance.”

“Why thank you. I feel honored at a chance with you.” Legolas joked. Laughing commenced. After dinner Serein watched the friends exchanged stories. It was nice to hear Frodo and Sam so happy. And the tales were interesting. Though they all seemed to revolve around something which none of them would give a name to with her listening. She did not mind. Soon her mind grew hazy. She had not slept for weeks, and today had been a trying battle. If tomorrow they were to begin the mountains, she would need rest. Laying against a tree, she close her heavy eyelids and fell asleep.

Time drifted by as it got later and later. Soon Aragon noted the hobbits were yawning.

“Why not go to sleep?” He suggested.

“It seems Lady Serein has already done just that.” Gimli laughed.

“What?” Sam and Frodo shot up.

“What’s wrong with the Lady wanting to sleep?” Gandalf asked.

“Nothing. It’s just that she never slept when she was with us alone.” Sam murmured.

“Never slept? The only race that can go without sleep is an elf. She is human, she could not go without sleep. She probably stayed awake longer and then got up earlier.” Aragon spoke without skipping a beat.

“No. When Sam or I would wake in the middle of the night, she was always awake, sword beside her. How odd.” Frodo spoke.

“Well. Never you mind. Let her sleep now if she has not slept all that time. I will take first watch.” Legolas stated.

“Very well. Wake me for second watch.” Gimli nodded.

“And I for third.” Aragon spoke up.

“Good.” And with that, they slept.

Morning came to the small company as dawn broke over the horizon line. Slowly and meagerly, the hobbits dragged them selves awake with Aragon’s urging. Gimli woke Legolas by throwing small pebbles at him. When one of the pebbles rolled into Legolas’ slightly parted lips, he choked and sputtered awake. The camp was in an uproar.

“Oh, to see the mighty elf brought down by a pebble!” Gimli laughed. Frodo and Sam were rolling with laughter, and Aragon and Gandalf chuckled as well.

Serein awoke to the sound of laughter. Looking around, she caught sight of something unusual. The elf she had been introduced to the night before was flushing a dark rouge, and the others, including Sam and Frodo, were laughing at his expense. It was a warm sight to awaken to, compared to waking and finding herself alone and isolated in a foreign land. The sun felt warm on the face, and the wind blew with a soft caress. The sun… damn. She had woken later than usual, throwing them behind schedule. Well, they would just have to make up for lost time then. The breeze carried the smoke from Sam’s cooking her way. But first a little breakfast was in order.

“Tell me short one, what do you cook this morning?” She joined the rest of the company. They seemed to have forgotten of her in their laughter.

“Good morning Serein!” Frodo smiled her way.

“Short Frodo.” She gave a slight laugh and nod in his direction. “Did we sleep well short ones?” She inquired.

“Very well!” They chorused together. It was tradition to respond this way. Then Serein addressed the new comers.

“And your sleep men?”

“Indeed, it was most restful.” Gandalf answered for them all. Could they trust her?

“Save for the pebbles.” Legolas muttered. The others broke into laughter.

“I am afraid I do not follow your joke.” Serein gave them a funny look, cocking her head to the side, as if examining them for any hint of insanity. But as quickly as she had begun the look, she stopped it. “Sam, cook quickly. We lose time sitting here.”

“Lose time? The day has only just begun Lady.” Gimli stated proudly.

“Usually Serein makes us move out just as the sun hits the horizon line.” Sam answered, mussing with his cooking in the all the while.

“That is early for such a young group to move.” Aragon commented.

“No earlier than the day itself.” She replied cryptically.

“I am afraid, my dear Lady, that you speak in constant riddles with us.” Gandalf stated calmly.

“I speak what I wish you to know, no less and certainly no more.” An old fashioned stand-off between the old wizard and the seemingly young girl commenced. For a good few moments they dared not gaze anywhere besides at each other. Then Gandalf blinked and turned away.

“Food’s on!” Sam announced good-naturedly. Handing around the provisions, they fell into an awkward silence. And that way they stayed, each to their own thoughts, until they had finished their morning meal.

“Short one, your cooking amazes me.” Serein smiled at Sam.

“And yet you never finish it all!” Frodo accused in a friendly tone.

“Ah! There is too much for me! Waste not your provisions on me. Come now. Pack, we need to get on the road.” She reminded them.

“Alright, alright, we’re packing.” The hobbits went off as she stood and began to clean their campsite. The four men simply stared at the sight. It was as if they had been forgotten within the routine of the Hobbits and their new ally.

“Forgive me Lady, but you will be accompanying us across the mountains?” Legolas asked, breaking the spell.

“Us? I am afraid you are off, young elf. I alone will be taking the short ones across. You would be better off on this side of the range, I guarantee you of that.” She scoffed at them.

“Lady, our goal and the goal of the Hobbits is one in the same. You see, we began as one company, only to split in the middle of our travels and be reunited here and now. You are right, it will be better off on this side of the mountain range, which is why you will be staying here.” Legolas firmly stated. Aragon nodded in agreement as he, Gandalf, and Gimli stood to face the girl.

“I will do no such thing. I was paid, as you may remember from the take last night, to escort the short ones across the mountains. And I have never broken my word. I will see my duty through. And after that, I have my own business to attend to across the mountains. You see, though you may have begun this journey together with the same goals, I too have now joined you with a slightly mutual goal. If you insist upon coming, that is fine. But you will need to abide by my rules.”

“Us? Abide by your rules?” Gimli snorted.

“Laugh as you wish master dwarf. You do not affect me one way or another.”

“Oh? And would you, then, perhaps take orders from a Prince?” Gimli pressed.

“I acknowledge no Prince here dwarf. And if I did, I would only acknowledge his title, and no more. A Prince does not always have the best answers. With my orders, I know I will be safe, as will the Hobbits.”

“You know.” Gandalf spoke low and quiet. “You almost sound treasonous.” Serein gave him a hard glance.

“I am no more of a treasoner than those whom have run from a battle in fear.”

“We’re ready Serein!” Sam poked her from behind.

“Then on we go short ones.” She and the hobbits began their walk. The four men stared at each other in wonder. Frodo and Sam trusted her this much? They quickly mounted their ponies and caught up, blocking the path before the three on foot.

“We cannot let you go without us, then, Frodo.” Aragon spoke.

“You are welcome to come.” Frodo told him, confused. “I already thought you were.”

“We were given an ultimatum by Serein. Follow her rules or do not join you.” Gimli said sarcastically.

“It was an ultimatum for a reason, understand master dwarf. Safety first. I have walked these mountains before, I know the path, and I know what lays ahead.” She quipped, not to be outdone.

“Why not all of us go, and when a decision is needed, decided then?” Sam asked. A silence broke for a moment. The stiff air was thick.

“Very well then.” She conceded.

“Agreed.” Legolas stated for them. Though the atmosphere had not yet lightened, they had reached an agreement.

“We will ride faster on horse back. Frodo, with me. Sam, Aragon.” Gandalf stated. “Serein, you may have the fifth pony, if you can ride.”

“I can.” She nodded. Gimli released the rope he held for the last pony, and Serein went to work unsaddling him.

“No saddle Lady?” Aragon was surprised.

“No. Only bareback.” She muttered coldly. They took it as a warning sign to back off, and began their ponies, not waiting for her to finish.

The mountain slope finally increased, and the trail of horseback riders prayed there would be no… interruptions… until they were over the main pass. They stopped mid-day to humor the hungry whims of the hobbit’s stomachs.

“The weather is turning upon us.” Legolas spoke gravely. Each of the men remembered the last time the weather had turned upon them. They had been forced to back down and regroup.

“I fear the worst.” Gandalf replied gloomily.

“What for? They are nothing more than heavy rain clouds.” Serein replied carelessly. She was seated upon a boulder some feet away from the main group. Legolas turned and looked at her. How did she possibly know they were just rain clouds? She seemed confident, however, and this put him at ease. He walked over to her, bringing an apple as a peace offering.

“Forgive me Lady.” He stood in front of her. “Care to take this apple as a sign of my repentance?”

“Forgive you for what?” She looked up, surprised he was speaking to her. Frodo and Sam had been quiet since their friends had returned, and their friends had been even more so tight lipped than the hobbits. It was simply a slight surprise for him to try.

“Forgive me for…” Legolas repeated. “I don’t know. It just sounded like a good way to break the ice. Care for an apple?” He smirked.

“No thank you.” She stated calmly.

“Well then, will you mind me joining you?”

“I am sitting here. I care not what you do.”

“As I ‘care not what you do’ as well.” He smirked some more. He could see the annoyance building in her eyes. Such captivating eyes. This was fun. He should make teasing her a regular occurrence.

“Young elf, do not toy with me.” She stated icily.

“How do you know I’m young? You seem younger than me. In fact, you look ten years younger than I.”

“I do not take that as a compliment, elf boy. Leave me in peace.” She sighed inwardly. She had to focus on her task ahead. She had to be ready to take on the might Saruman that now held her city’s only hope for survival. Screw this elf and his friends, they were simply an annoyance in her eyes.

“Very well, Lady.” Legolas felt slightly hurt she had shot him down so harshly. She had not even had the decency to look him in the eye as she did it. Well. If his friendship was unwanted, he would go somewhere it was.
“Gimli, do you realize you and Frodo are nearly the same height?”

“Elf! Do not insult me as such!” Laughter ensued, and things went back to the way they had been.

Four days of this went on. Each day Legolas tried to amend and create a friendship with Serein, and each time he was rejected. The hobbits became more withdrawn as they neared the bottom of the mountain. Only two days’ journey left and they would be in the land of Mordor. Each shivered with the knowledge of what would happen once they reached the wicked land.*