The Elf From America

He had put on the Ring! He was now gone probably back to Bag End. Frodo knew. She had to stop him before he reached Bag End. Bilbo needed to flee.
He couldn't stay. It was one of those things that were meant to be. Elenya immediately went to find Frodo who was near the stage where Bilbo had disappeared. She put a hand on his shoulder.

"Frodo?"

"I didn't think he'd ever do it. I have to stop him!" Frodo said standing up.

"No, you can't!" she exclaimed standing in front of him.

"Why not?"

"Because...because-
She was at a loss for words. She felt ludicrous as she just said the silliest words that came to mind.

"Because we never finished our dance," she babbled. You idiot! she thought to herself.

"What? Bilbo's gone and you want to dance?!" he looked at her.

"Um........yes," she tried to smile but mostly stared at her feet.

"Come on, then." Frodo took her hand and stepped quickly to the center of the dancing. A lively tune played, and Elenya and Frodo began to spin as they were doing before. They locked hands for a few minutes until Frodo finally let her go, but she didn't stop spinning. The moon shone a ray of light on her as she continued to move her feet to the song. She was glowing. All the other hobbits were watching the elf dance. On the last part of the song, she spun and spun and spun. It finally stopped, and she dropped to the ground. But she noticed something. Frodo was not there.

She instantly took off for the lane that led to Bag End. She walked inside and saw Frodo standing near the fire with an envelope in his hand. He didn't take his eyes off it. She walked up to him and touched his shoulder. He seemed startled.

"I'm sorry for deserting you. But I wanted to find Bilbo. He's gone, Elenya."

"I know," she said.

"He's left Bag End to me. I'm in charge now and I decide if you stay or go." His eyes met hers and a small smile slid across his face. "You can stay for as long as you want."

"Thank you, Frodo."


******
She stayed with him for some months. He never changed and neither did she. They had spent some time in the garden and in the woods. They were coming out of a nearby inn one evening with Sam. Frodo had obviously had too much ale, but he had been in worse condition. One night Elenya had a swig herself and Frodo learned the reason why elves do not drink ale.

"Goodnight Sam," Frodo said walking out of the inn and nearly stumbling upon the steps.

"Goodnight Mr. Frodo!" Sam said. "Goodnight Elenya!"

"Goodnight master Samwise," she smiled.

Sam and Elenya had become good friends. She was even better friends with Frodo. Frodo slipped an arm around the rather tall elf's waist and grinned happily becoming quite attached to her. Elenya reminded herself that this could possibly still all be a dream but how could she resist the curly dark hair and the beautiful blue eyes of the young hobbit? However she also reminded herself of the Quest he was about to take, though she would have another of her own to fulfill.

They walked into the door at Bag End, and Elenya immediately sensed a presence.
The wind blew through the open window knocking papers to the ground. A hand out of the darkness took Frodo by the cloak. The elf let out a brief scream, but was silenced when she realized who it was.

"Gandalf!"


*****
They were sitting at the table. Elenya had seen the writing on the Ring with her own eyes. Gandalf had told Frodo all about the tale of the Ring. But Elenya knew the story by heart of how it came to Isildur, then to Gollum, and finally to Bilbo who kept it hidden in the Shire. It could stay hidden there no longer. Gandalf told Frodo that Sauron had not been destroyed and that his minions were searching for the ring.

"Can we not just put it away, Gandalf?" Frodo said standing up with the Ring in his hand. "I mean no one knows it's here do they? Do they Gandalf?"

"There was another who knew that Bilbo carried the Ring. I searched everywhere for the creature Gollum but the Enemy found him first."

He went onto explain that Gollum was tortured. Elenya pictured the pitiful creature in her mind and its pain. She felt mercy for it still had a part to play, but she couldn't believe all the trouble it would cause.

"Take it Gandalf!" Frodo said holding the Ring up to Gandalf.

"No Frodo."

"You must take it!"

"You can not offer me this Ring!"

"I'm giving it to you!" Frodo said determined.

"Don't tempt me Frodo!" Gandalf shouted. "I dare not take it not even to keep it safe. Do you see Frodo? I would use this Ring out of a desire to do good. But through me it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine."

"But it can not stay in the Shire!" he said.

"No it can't."

Frodo looked at the elf.

"Do not look to me to solve this dilemma," she said backing away. "It's your Ring."

"You say such things after you have heard the tale with your own ears. There is only one that the Ring belongs to!" he scolded her. She felt silly. But she looked again to Frodo. He clutched the Ring in his hand.

"I will leave. Where do I go?" he asked.

"Make for the village of Bree," Gandalf said helping him pack.

"It is not wise for him to travel along, Gandalf. I shall accompany him," Elenya said.

"But you are a girl!" Frodo objected.

"Do you not know that some of the world's greatest heroines were women? Joan of Arc, Catherine the Great, Queen Elizabeth!"

Of course, they did not understand a word she said but they could not stop her from accompanying Frodo. She suddenly heard a noise from the window. Frodo dropped to the floor as Gandalf raised his stick to the person Elenya knew who was there already. Gandalf heard a groan as he picked up the figure and planted him upon the table.

"Confound it all Samwise Gamgee!" he yelled. "Have you been eavesdropping?"

"I don't know what you are talking about Mr. Gandalf. There aren't no eaves in the Shire on my honor. I was merely cutting the grass under the verge there."

"A little late for trimming the verge don't you think?" Gandalf said to him.

"What did you hear? Quick!"

"Nothing important. Well that is I heard a great deal about A Ring and a dark lord and somethin about the end of the world." Elenya laughed as Sam continued, "Please Mr. Gandalf don’t hurt me. Don't turn me into anything unnatural!" Frodo interrupted.

"Sam if you really care about me, you will keep it a dead secret. If you don't, if you even breathe a world of what you've heard here, then I hope Gandalf will turn you into a spotted toad and fill the garden full of grass snakes!"

Sam fell on his knees trembling which Elenya laughed at even more. "Get up Sam!" Gandalf yelled. "I have thought of a better use of you. Something to shut your mouth, and punish you properly for listening. You shall go away with Frodo and the elf!"

"Me sir?" cried Sam, springing up like a puppy ready to go on a walk. "Me go and see elves and all! Hooray!" he shouted, and then burst into tears.