Morning Expedition by Dreamflower
Author: Dreamflower
Title: Morning Expedition in Rivendell
Rating: G
Theme: Art's Desire
Elements: This picture by rs9 She kindly gave me permission to us her lovely art as an illustration in this story.
Summary: Aragorn and Arwen include Frodo in an early morning outing.
Word Count: 1,679
Morning Expedition
Frodo took in a deep breath. He had risen much earlier than usual this morning, and rather than waken his cousins and Sam, had slipped out to wander Rivendell below the lavender pre-dawn sky. It was cool, but not as cold as was usual in autumn. Frodo had noticed that Rivendell was much milder in climate for the time of year than the Shire. He had seen some of the Elves out and about. Elves didn't seem to sleep as much as hobbits did at any rate. He knew from Bilbo that often some of them would stay awake all night in the Hall of Fire, so those he saw had probably not even been to bed at all.
Now he had explored the terraces and looked up to see the pale light of Anor beginning to tinge the lavender with rose. The Morning Star was fading. He sat down upon one of the wide steps of the wide porch in the front of the Last Homely House. He was thinking about breakfast, but wasn't ready to leave his quiet time for the bustle of the kitchen, where he was sure he would be fussed over by all the Elves there. He so seldom had a chance to get away from the sometimes smothering protectiveness of the other three hobbits, but it would not feel right to get breakfast without them.
Just then he sensed rather than heard a presence near, but before he could turn, he heard a gentle voice: "Good morning, Frodo. You are up early," said Arwen.
He turned his head, where he saw Arwen standing on the step just behind him, Aragorn at her side, their hands entwined. He noticed that both were clad informally, even Arwen wearing breeches rather than a gown. Aragorn gave the hobbit one of his rare smiles. "I am surprised to see you alone, Frodo, without your shadows."
Frodo chuckled. "They were sleeping well this morning, even Sam. I thought to have some rare time to myself."
"Well, then, we shall not intrude further," Aragorn replied, getting ready to move on down the steps.
"Not at all, Strider, er, Aragorn. I would not mind your company, nor the Lady," and he turned his gaze to Arwen. "If you please, that is. It is just that much as I am fond of the others, they seem to think I am made of rare porcelain and would break at the least little thing."
Arwen gracefully sank down onto the step beside him, followed by Aragorn by her side. "They came close to losing you. I think you might do the same had one of the others been so wounded or ill."
Frodo nodded. "I know I would. I can recall such times when they were young fry. All of them had occasions when I was worrying--or worriting, as some in the Shire put it--over one or the other of them all, especially Pippin who fell into trouble when he was small twice as often as Merry and Sam put together, and then some. That's why I don't say anything to them. But it is tiresome to be the one fussed over all the time. Still, I know they will begin to get over it as they realise I am all right now." He glanced over at them, ready to change the subject. "But the two of you are also up early! Do you also wish to avoid others?"
Arwen's laugh was like music, and Aragorn grinned, though he grew quite red. She answered, "Not precisely. But Estel will be away tomorrow to scout out signs of the Enemy for perhaps days on end. So we thought we would take a ride this morning into the Valley, and perhaps have a picnic." She gave Frodo a considering look. "Would you care to come with us?"
Aragorn looked a little surprised, but gave a nod, to show he did not mind her impulsive invitation.
"Are you sure?" Frodo asked. He was fairly certain the couple would have rather been by themselves.
"Most certainly!" was the Lady's reply. She put an arm around Frodo's shoulder.
"I do think you will be good company." Then she turned mischievously to Aragorn. "And if Ada knows we have taken a friend along, he shall be less likely to send someone after us."
Aragorn laughed out loud at this, and Frodo had to laugh as well. "How can I say 'no' to you," was Frodo's response. "But I don't want to worry Merry, Pippin and Sam by an unexplained absence!"
"It will be all right," said Arwen. "When we go to the kitchens to break our fast and to ask for our lunch, I shall send a message to them that you have gone with us. We should be back in time for you to have tea with Bilbo."
So Frodo found himself following the couple down the paths to the stables, where horses were found for them. Elrond did keep a couple of ponies, but Frodo decided to take Aragorn up on his offer to ride pillion with him.
They rode down into the Valley, following a well-used track through the trees. The trees in Rivendell were older, taller, than those in the Shire. The track wound along a trickling burn, and though along the water there were the usual willows and alders, most of the woods consisted of evergreens, pine trees and junipers. They rode easily among them; there was little undergrowth, the trees were so tall. Arwen pointed out some of the autumn flowers that sometimes peeked among the tree roots. Occasionally they would stop and dismount, Aragorn and Arwen to harvest some herbs of one sort of another, Frodo to stretch his legs, which were not used to riding upon so great a creature as a horse. At one spot he found a nice bounty of mushrooms, which he delicately harvested to add to the luncheon basket which swung behind Aragorn's saddle. The little burn had gradually widened into a wide stream rushing over stones and making more sound than it had before, as it grew louder and louder, Frodo realised it was not simply the stream he was hearing, but a waterfall.
The trees ended abruptly, and there was an opening beneath the eaves of the wood beyond which a grassy sward lead down to where the stream met another larger stream into which was pouring a waterfall, perhaps a rod high. Large stones were arranged--that was the only word Frodo could think of--conveniently near the water. As they laid out their picnic, Arwen confirmed that Elves had indeed placed the stones there to serve as seating and table for picnic outings.
They ate quietly, enjoying the bread, cold meat, cheese and fruit, along with a bottle of mead, that had been packed for their enjoyment by the Elves in the kitchen. Frodo contributed the mushrooms he had found. Sun and stone were warm, and they took their time as they ate and drank; Arwen questioned Frodo about his life in the Shire. "Bilbo has told us so much about you..." Frodo blushed, as he knew Bilbo would have been boasting about him. But she coaxed him into telling several amusing stories of his youth, and also of some of the things his younger cousins had done: "And then there was the time that Pippin got tree sap in his hair while visiting in Bag End. He was just a sprout of six or seven at the time. His mother was due to come and pick him up that afternoon, so Merry and I were frantic. Thankfully Sam came to the rescue, and found some sort of awful smelling soap that took it out..."
Finally, Aragorn looked at the sky. "The shadows are growing longer; if we wish to be back in time for Frodo to take tea with Bilbo, we shall have to set out now."
It was with reluctance that they gathered up their things. Arwen gave a whistle for the mounts, which had been released to graze and wander. Both animals returned promptly, looking fresh and frisky. Soon they were riding once more, taking a slightly different track, for as Aragorn said, "Nearly all these paths lead back to Rivendell, and so we can show you different scenery than the way in which we came."
Frodo was pleasantly tired and began to slip in and out of a hazy drowse as they rode, but as they got near the stables and the horses picked up their pace, he perked up. He had partaken of a fine lunch, but he was quite ready for tea.
He was not the least bit surprised to find Sam, Merry and Pippin all waiting for him as they arrived at the stables. They all began speaking at once: "Frodo, how could you go off and have fun without us?" "You should've awakened us, Frodo!" "Master Frodo, I know as you must be tired and hungry..."
As Aragorn lifted him off the horse, Frodo laughed. "So this is the thanks I get for allowing you lot to have a bit of a morning lie-in? Come along! Let's go see what Bilbo has set us for tea."
As his cousins and Sam started to drag him off, he stopped them briefly and turned back to Aragorn and Arwen. "Thank you so very much for allowing me to be a part of your day." He lowered his voice. "I know that perhaps you would have rather been without another person, but I did enjoy myself immensely."
Both of them blushed, but Arwen bent down and gave him a kiss on top of his head. "I am very glad you came with us, Frodo."
Now Frodo turned and went on with the other hobbits. The couple watched them with fondness. "I really am glad he went with us, Estel," she said, "even if it was not what we planned."
Aragorn nodded. "So am I, beloved. He has a hard path to tread; perhaps remembering a day like today will help him when things get difficult."
Title: Morning Expedition in Rivendell
Rating: G
Theme: Art's Desire
Elements: This picture by rs9 She kindly gave me permission to us her lovely art as an illustration in this story.
Summary: Aragorn and Arwen include Frodo in an early morning outing.
Word Count: 1,679
Morning Expedition
Frodo took in a deep breath. He had risen much earlier than usual this morning, and rather than waken his cousins and Sam, had slipped out to wander Rivendell below the lavender pre-dawn sky. It was cool, but not as cold as was usual in autumn. Frodo had noticed that Rivendell was much milder in climate for the time of year than the Shire. He had seen some of the Elves out and about. Elves didn't seem to sleep as much as hobbits did at any rate. He knew from Bilbo that often some of them would stay awake all night in the Hall of Fire, so those he saw had probably not even been to bed at all.
Now he had explored the terraces and looked up to see the pale light of Anor beginning to tinge the lavender with rose. The Morning Star was fading. He sat down upon one of the wide steps of the wide porch in the front of the Last Homely House. He was thinking about breakfast, but wasn't ready to leave his quiet time for the bustle of the kitchen, where he was sure he would be fussed over by all the Elves there. He so seldom had a chance to get away from the sometimes smothering protectiveness of the other three hobbits, but it would not feel right to get breakfast without them.
Just then he sensed rather than heard a presence near, but before he could turn, he heard a gentle voice: "Good morning, Frodo. You are up early," said Arwen.
He turned his head, where he saw Arwen standing on the step just behind him, Aragorn at her side, their hands entwined. He noticed that both were clad informally, even Arwen wearing breeches rather than a gown. Aragorn gave the hobbit one of his rare smiles. "I am surprised to see you alone, Frodo, without your shadows."
Frodo chuckled. "They were sleeping well this morning, even Sam. I thought to have some rare time to myself."
"Well, then, we shall not intrude further," Aragorn replied, getting ready to move on down the steps.
"Not at all, Strider, er, Aragorn. I would not mind your company, nor the Lady," and he turned his gaze to Arwen. "If you please, that is. It is just that much as I am fond of the others, they seem to think I am made of rare porcelain and would break at the least little thing."
Arwen gracefully sank down onto the step beside him, followed by Aragorn by her side. "They came close to losing you. I think you might do the same had one of the others been so wounded or ill."
Frodo nodded. "I know I would. I can recall such times when they were young fry. All of them had occasions when I was worrying--or worriting, as some in the Shire put it--over one or the other of them all, especially Pippin who fell into trouble when he was small twice as often as Merry and Sam put together, and then some. That's why I don't say anything to them. But it is tiresome to be the one fussed over all the time. Still, I know they will begin to get over it as they realise I am all right now." He glanced over at them, ready to change the subject. "But the two of you are also up early! Do you also wish to avoid others?"
Arwen's laugh was like music, and Aragorn grinned, though he grew quite red. She answered, "Not precisely. But Estel will be away tomorrow to scout out signs of the Enemy for perhaps days on end. So we thought we would take a ride this morning into the Valley, and perhaps have a picnic." She gave Frodo a considering look. "Would you care to come with us?"
Aragorn looked a little surprised, but gave a nod, to show he did not mind her impulsive invitation.
"Are you sure?" Frodo asked. He was fairly certain the couple would have rather been by themselves.
"Most certainly!" was the Lady's reply. She put an arm around Frodo's shoulder.
"I do think you will be good company." Then she turned mischievously to Aragorn. "And if Ada knows we have taken a friend along, he shall be less likely to send someone after us."
Aragorn laughed out loud at this, and Frodo had to laugh as well. "How can I say 'no' to you," was Frodo's response. "But I don't want to worry Merry, Pippin and Sam by an unexplained absence!"
"It will be all right," said Arwen. "When we go to the kitchens to break our fast and to ask for our lunch, I shall send a message to them that you have gone with us. We should be back in time for you to have tea with Bilbo."
So Frodo found himself following the couple down the paths to the stables, where horses were found for them. Elrond did keep a couple of ponies, but Frodo decided to take Aragorn up on his offer to ride pillion with him.
They rode down into the Valley, following a well-used track through the trees. The trees in Rivendell were older, taller, than those in the Shire. The track wound along a trickling burn, and though along the water there were the usual willows and alders, most of the woods consisted of evergreens, pine trees and junipers. They rode easily among them; there was little undergrowth, the trees were so tall. Arwen pointed out some of the autumn flowers that sometimes peeked among the tree roots. Occasionally they would stop and dismount, Aragorn and Arwen to harvest some herbs of one sort of another, Frodo to stretch his legs, which were not used to riding upon so great a creature as a horse. At one spot he found a nice bounty of mushrooms, which he delicately harvested to add to the luncheon basket which swung behind Aragorn's saddle. The little burn had gradually widened into a wide stream rushing over stones and making more sound than it had before, as it grew louder and louder, Frodo realised it was not simply the stream he was hearing, but a waterfall.
The trees ended abruptly, and there was an opening beneath the eaves of the wood beyond which a grassy sward lead down to where the stream met another larger stream into which was pouring a waterfall, perhaps a rod high. Large stones were arranged--that was the only word Frodo could think of--conveniently near the water. As they laid out their picnic, Arwen confirmed that Elves had indeed placed the stones there to serve as seating and table for picnic outings.
They ate quietly, enjoying the bread, cold meat, cheese and fruit, along with a bottle of mead, that had been packed for their enjoyment by the Elves in the kitchen. Frodo contributed the mushrooms he had found. Sun and stone were warm, and they took their time as they ate and drank; Arwen questioned Frodo about his life in the Shire. "Bilbo has told us so much about you..." Frodo blushed, as he knew Bilbo would have been boasting about him. But she coaxed him into telling several amusing stories of his youth, and also of some of the things his younger cousins had done: "And then there was the time that Pippin got tree sap in his hair while visiting in Bag End. He was just a sprout of six or seven at the time. His mother was due to come and pick him up that afternoon, so Merry and I were frantic. Thankfully Sam came to the rescue, and found some sort of awful smelling soap that took it out..."
Finally, Aragorn looked at the sky. "The shadows are growing longer; if we wish to be back in time for Frodo to take tea with Bilbo, we shall have to set out now."
It was with reluctance that they gathered up their things. Arwen gave a whistle for the mounts, which had been released to graze and wander. Both animals returned promptly, looking fresh and frisky. Soon they were riding once more, taking a slightly different track, for as Aragorn said, "Nearly all these paths lead back to Rivendell, and so we can show you different scenery than the way in which we came."
Frodo was pleasantly tired and began to slip in and out of a hazy drowse as they rode, but as they got near the stables and the horses picked up their pace, he perked up. He had partaken of a fine lunch, but he was quite ready for tea.
He was not the least bit surprised to find Sam, Merry and Pippin all waiting for him as they arrived at the stables. They all began speaking at once: "Frodo, how could you go off and have fun without us?" "You should've awakened us, Frodo!" "Master Frodo, I know as you must be tired and hungry..."
As Aragorn lifted him off the horse, Frodo laughed. "So this is the thanks I get for allowing you lot to have a bit of a morning lie-in? Come along! Let's go see what Bilbo has set us for tea."
As his cousins and Sam started to drag him off, he stopped them briefly and turned back to Aragorn and Arwen. "Thank you so very much for allowing me to be a part of your day." He lowered his voice. "I know that perhaps you would have rather been without another person, but I did enjoy myself immensely."
Both of them blushed, but Arwen bent down and gave him a kiss on top of his head. "I am very glad you came with us, Frodo."
Now Frodo turned and went on with the other hobbits. The couple watched them with fondness. "I really am glad he went with us, Estel," she said, "even if it was not what we planned."
Aragorn nodded. "So am I, beloved. He has a hard path to tread; perhaps remembering a day like today will help him when things get difficult."