Dawnstar and Friend

Eleanor’s POV
We cross the mountains immediately next to Rivendell carefully, watchful of both monsters and Mirkwood elves, though we meet neither; and then head south, stopping off in Lorien where we stop for a month or so and are warmly welcomed.
It is a good job we each packed a dress, though Galadriel insists on having us some more made while we are there as, apparently, leggings and tunics are not appropriate for two elfin Princesses and the ward of a high ranking elf-lord.
The day after we arrive there is, you’ll never guess what, oh you guessed it: a ball!!
The dress-makers excelled themselves as somehow they managed to make us all suitable dresses in the day and a half or so since we had arrived in Caras Galadhon. I think Galadriel sensed us at the borders and forewarned them and they just adjusted them to our measurements once we were there.
In Lorien, all our dresses were simple, but elegant, satin creations and Ginny was over the moon that they had managed to get a pale shade of blue that was almost lilac, the closest to purple she had managed to get in Middle Earth.
Predictably mine was blue and gold and Miriel’s was green and silver.
What was weird about the ball was it was on the forest floor.
At the ball we got to reacquaint ourselves with those we already knew: Galadriel, Celeborn, Arwen, and Haldir, as well as being introduced to several more including Haldir’s younger brothers Rumil and Orophin who, though no equals for the twins, had that sense of humour and were great fun to be around. Both flirted unashamedly and without prejudice as to who was on the receiving end.
The next morning we discovered that every day there was a duel for the viewing of anyone who wanted to watch.
We took great pleasure in showing just how well we had improved over the last few years. It didn’t take the Galadhrim long to stop holding back against us. I don’t think they realised how much years spent running around the wilds of Eriador could improve a person’s skill at fighting.
The best bit was when Miriel shot Haldir’s arrow right out of the air.
After that month, though, we had to leave; as much as we enjoyed the woods, we had to carry on.
We went south through Rohan, avoiding people where we could until we hit the mountain range in which Helms Deep was built, getting just east of the fortress. We travelled south-east along that side of the mountains until we came to a relatively easy to cross path which we went through and we entered Gondor.
We cut though Gondor as fast as possible though we couldn’t avoid people like we had been able to do in Rohan as to cross the many rivers to get to where we were going we had to get some sort of crossing, many of which had tolls. Thankfully we had money Elrond had given us so that was not a problem.
When we were in town we generally kept our hoods up and our faces hidden, though, thankfully, the humans didn’t know enough about elves so, with a certain amount of effort, Miriel and I could pass for male elves if it was necessary. Three females travelling alone, as we already knew, was just asking for it.
The presence of swords on all our hips significantly lowered the amount of trouble we got into.
After what seemed like ages, we managed to get down through the substantially less populated south of Gondor and to our destination: Harad.
We want to go here first, before exploring the places closer to home, because both Ginny and I realise that the further from the War of the Ring, the lesser the chance of trouble.
Harad, in many ways is similar to the Arab countries of Earth and our experience of those countries, from our little round the world tour - us, in this case, being Ginny and I.
From the moment we crossed out of Gondorian territory, we were all very careful. We all knew that the Haradrim were allies of Sauron.
We then moved across both south and westwards into the region of Umbar.
The thing that shocked us most was the slave markets that even small towns had. It was only self-preservation and the realisation that we could not help that stopped us from doing something about it.
One night we stopped in a tropic oasis and much to our surprise, found three abandoned kittens. One was pure black, the second was a silver tabby, and the final was pure white.
Ginny, being Ginny, immediately went for the tabby who got christened Murrlin, a cannibalisation of the name of the pet silver tabby Ginny had on Earth.
Miriel wanted the white one, which suited me fine as I wanted the black one.
The only strange thing about them was that they all had abnormally long tails and large feet for their size, but this didn’t stop us adopting them and being rather soppy about them.
I call my one Nyx, after the Greek goddess of Night and Miriel calls hers Falathiel, which apparently means huntress. All the cats are female; this makes Ginny a little morbid, the much missed Merlin being male.
At first the cats try running across the sand with us, but soon opt to ride with us instead as the sand is hot and irritated their paws, poor darlings.
***
Over the next few weeks our hunting skills come in useful, particularly Miriel’s archery because the cats only eat meat, and they do eat one hell of a lot of it.
When we get to one of the Umbar towns, we discover something else that makes Ginny very happy. They have purple cloth here!
She not only gets the cloth, which is admittedly still rather expensive, but also as much dye as she can reasonably carry and instructions on how to use it.
I foresee lots of purple dresses in the part of the future that involves a return to Rivendell.
While in Umbar, we debate whether to go into far Harad and Khand; we take one look at the political situation and decide against it rather quickly.
After a detailed exploration of the towns and cities of the Sauron-allied south, we return north.
We travel north and back to Rivendell by the fastest route possible and even still, we have been gone over a year. Even on horse, we travelled an incredibly long way and it took forever.
Probably the most amusing bit of the return journey is the reactions of our cats to the difference in land from where they have been before. They are incredibly amused and amusing when introduced to grass and Miriel’s tree-climbing skills come in useful when they come across that piece of fun. We soon learn to hold onto the little dears rather carefully.
Ginny’s POV
We decide to go south towards Harad and Umbar. There are various reasons for this; one: Ellie and I absolutely loved the deserty Arab countries we had visited during our Gap Year; and two: these regions have a slightly more dangerous reputation.
Admittedly, if we stay around the northern countries, we will eventually see far more danger and adventure, but Ellie and I are not stupid enough to get too caught up in the War of the Ring.
Naturally, we only tell the Rivendell elves that we’re going ‘south’; if he knew our real intentions, Ada would most certainly put his foot down and forbid me from going anywhere.
However, before we head too far south, we visit the Lorien elves.
We find that, not only is Galadriel already aware of our presence in her realm, but she has also had her seamstresses make new dresses for all of us.
Not that I’m all that surprised; Galadriel’s fame and reputation for great power and wisdom is enough to make me believe that anything is possible.
We are told that there is to be a Welcome Ball tomorrow night. What a surprise!
What was actually a surprise was the simplicity of our ball gowns, even Ellie and Miriel only wear one dress. Maybe it has something to do with the way that the Lorien elves live; I mean I certainly wouldn’t want to walk around a forest in an elaborately bejewelled dress – I’d spend my whole time worrying about twigs and mud.
Having said that, our dresses are beautifully crafted.
Mine is in the palest shade of blue imaginable and I’m delighted to see that, in certain lights, the satin shimmers a lovely lilac colour. The only embroidery and jewels on my dress are in fine, flowing patterns around the v-shaped neck and high waist; the embroidery is in a delicate silver thread and the jewels are minute diamonds.
As well as getting reacquainted with our old friends, we also spend a lot of the ball being shamelessly flirted with by Rumil and Orophin, the younger brothers of Haldir. We don’t take them seriously, though, as all the ladies present are given the same treatment.
All except Galadriel, I notice. Rumil and Orophin didn’t even bother trying to flirt with her; I expect they had tried in the past, but had been scared off by Galadriel’s lovely husband.
The next morning, we girls express a desire to be able to practice our fighting as we don’t know the next time we would need to use our skills. We’re rather pleased to be told that there is a daily duel and that anyone can take part.
The elf that told us this is rather condescending when we say we would like to take part, he clearly doesn’t believe that women can fight as well as men – pillock.
The rest of the Galadhrim are equally amused when we suggest that, to make the duel more interesting, it should be boys against girls. I smile at Miriel and Ellie,
“Right then, girls, shall we see what they’re made of?”
Miriel and Ellie return my smile, knowingly. They both give tiny nod with their heads; all three of us look at the line of Galadhrim and simultaneously crack our knuckles...
***
After about a month in Lorien, we set off again. We pass through Rohan and then Gondor.
In order to lower our conspicuousness, Ellie and Miriel sometimes passed themselves off as male elves. That and the presence of multiple weapons help to lower the possibility of any threatening behaviour.
Some, however, could not take the hint.
We were passing through a small village near to the south of Gondor, it was a cold, wet afternoon and we had just stopped outside an inn to give the horses a rest and feed.
When we came back out of the inn, we found a small band of (drunk) men grouped around our horses. I went up to one who stood at the head of my horse. His chin was rough with stubble and he reeked of alcohol.
“Please get away from my horse.” The man swayed and laughed,
“What are you going to do about it? But, seeing as you asked nicely, I will move if you give me a kiss with those rosy lips of yours.” He put out his hand to touch my breast.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
“Why?”
I suddenly grabbed his shoulder with my left hand and drew out from underneath my cloak one of my elfin daggers; this I put to his throat.
“Because I wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot barge pole.”
There was a movement behind the wall of men and they parted to show Ellie and Miriel both holding loaded bows; they had also conveniently let their cloaks stay open, showing just how armed we all were. The man I’m holding isn’t so drunk that he can’t take such a threat seriously; he wrenches himself from my grasp and tears off down the lane, followed closely by the others.
***
We continue south out of Gondor and into Harad. We then move south-west, eventually ending up in Umbar.
Umbar is a strange, desert land, occasionally punctuated by oases. We stop at many of these along our journey.
One night, just as we’re setting up camp, a pitiful, plaintive cry reaches our ears.
“What’s that?” asks Miriel. We don’t answer her for we know precisely what that sound is, but how could it be? We thought they didn’t exist here.
There’s a sudden rustling, we look up. In the tree right above our heads are three tiny kittens: one white, one black, and one silver tabby.
“They must be stuck,” gasps Ellie, and she immediately goes to her pack and draws out a little portion of meat that we had saved from our previous meal.
She holds it high above her head, trying to tempt the kittens down. She encourages them softly,
“Come on. Come on, we won’t hurt you.”
From where I’m standing, I can see that the kittens look horribly emaciated. No wonder they’re so eager in scrabbling down.
Once they have eaten their fill (which was, I might add, our entire reserves of meat), they begin to gambol about, playing with each other.
“Let’s adopt them!” I say eagerly and I immediately pick up the silver tabby, kissing it on the head.
***
As we pass through one of the towns, I see something on one of the stalls that sends me into transports of delight: PURPLE cloth!
I rush up to the lady on the stall and instantly buy as much of the cloth and dye that we’re able to hold.
I then send Miriel and Ellie back to the camp as I’ve spotted something else that I’ve been wanting, but I want to keep it a surprise.
I wonder what Ada will say when he next sees me...