Scions of the Third Age

“Papa, how much farther do we have to go?” the hobbit lass asked Samwise one afternoon as their journey was nearing its end.

Elanor had been good not to ask the question too often along the way as her mother prepared her for the lengthy time she should expect to travel in the wagon. The trip, fortunately, had also had several diversions along the way.

They stopped first for a few days at Brandy Hall where she was spoiled shamelessly by Meriadoc’s wife Estella and then they went on to Bree and the Prancing Pony where her father and his friends reminisced freely about the times they visited during the War of the Ring. It was here that they spoke most often of Frodo Baggins, telling stories of his courage and sacrifice, and Elanor sighed dreamily wishing she remembered her brave Uncle Frodo better from before he left for the Undying Lands.

After spending the night in Bree, for Samwise did not think the crossroads was the most wholesome town to linger in for his young daughter, they quickly moved on stopping only briefly each night on the road. Elanor had certainly camped outside before, but nowhere farther from home than under the new party tree. At first spending the night under the stars in the far North seemed romantic and she imagined the King himself had camped in the very same spots as they did when he was still known as Strider. However, rain set in for the next several days and the poor lass began to feel cold, damp and generally miserable as she bumped along next to her father in the wagon.

She could not help but wish their trip now soon over.

“Not too much longer, my girl,” Samwise tried to sound cheerful as the rain dripped annoyingly down his back. “We should be in Fornost by nightfall and we’ll stay there until this rain passes.”

“Fornost?” she asked. “I thought it was deserted…”

“For a time it was,” piped up Peregrine who was riding his pony close to the wagon. “Now that the King is re-establishing a capital in Arnor there have been some hardy folk who have volunteered to repopulate the area. In fact, I know of a delightful inn run by a generous soul of a woman who moved from near Rivendell. No one much travels that way since the Elves are gone, so she was glad to move to a more profitable location.”

“A delightful inn indeed,” agreed Meriadoc. “I know it well! We’ll be there in time for tea, lass, and I guarantee you’ll get as much petting and spoiling from the proprietress and her guests as you’d want.”

“Well, that sounds promising,” Elanor thought to herself and brightened considerably in anticipation.

As promised, the town of Fornost was reached before dark set in, though the rain increased in intensity as they rode down the main street. By the time Samwise drew the wagon up to the inn, they were all thoroughly drenched.

A stately woman greeted them at the door with a ready smile and a blithe, “Good e’en, my lords!” As soon as she saw Elanor looking rather wilted and damp sitting next to her father she exclaimed, “Oh, poor lamb! You must be chilled. Bring her in directly, sir, and we’ll get the lass into a warm bath. What’s your name, little one?” She bustled her into the inn.

“Elanor, ma’am,” she answered trying not to let her teeth chatter.

“Well, Elanor,” cooed the woman, “you just let Queenie take care of you…”

With that the hobbit lass was quickly whisked upstairs to a large suite of rooms, which included a bathing chamber. Water was already being heated on the fire and a serving woman was laying out linens for her and her father for later.

“Queenie, you’re wanted downstairs,” said a soft, mellow voice at the door. “Something about the rum being gone?”

“What’s the rascal up to now?” the grand lady shook her head and hastened towards the door. “I swear that pirate is hoarding it for himself. I’ll have to go have a word with him… Lina, do you mind helping Mistress Gamgee with her bath?”

“Not at all,” the woman stepped into the room. Slight and dark haired, Lady Estelina was as graceful as a bird. “I’ve brought something with me that I thought she might like to try.”

“Wonderful idea,” agreed Queenie. “Very thoughtful, my lady. Well, lass, I must leave you in Lady Estelina’s capable hands. When you’re all through here, there will be something tasty for you to eat in the next room, but take your time. I know you’ve been on the road quite a while.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Elanor bobbed a curtsey. “You’re very kind.”

With a warm smile, the proprietress took her leave to deal with her reprobate barkeep and the rum issue while Estelina crossed the room to check Elanor’s bath water.

“Ah, the water is perfect, my dear. Are you ready to get in?”

Elanor was a little shy before such an elegant lady and she ducked her head as she replied, “I’m sorry to be such a bother, my lady.”

“It’s no bother at all, sweeting. Come…” she held out a hand to her. “I’ve got something lovely for you to smell…”

Intrigued by the pretty bottle Estelina drew out for her to see, the little halfling approached to examine it. The contents were a bright shade of green, like new leaves dancing in the sunlight. Then when the lady unstoppered the phial for Elanor to smell, she breathed in the aroma of woods, fresh and light like a spring day with just a hint of a headier summer to come.

“It smells like magic,” she murmured delightedly.

Estelina chuckled at the lass’s enthusiasm. “You like it then?” Elanor nodded eagerly and the lady added, “It’s called elf-bath,” and poured in a measure of it with the next pail of warm water.

Her eyes grew wide as she breathed, “From real elves? Have you met any yourself?”

“Several actually,” Estelina answered with a tolerant smile. “I daresay you will meet a few yourself once you arrive at Evendim.”

“Do you really think so?” she brightened.

“I think I can safely say, you may count on it. Now in you go. You don’t want the water to get cold.”

Gratefully Elanor sank into the warm tub with an appreciative sigh. Baths at home were not terribly appealing as they tended to be a rushed affair. As she luxuriated in the big tub of sudsy water, she would never look at bath time in the same way.


An hour later the lass was sitting down at a small table in the parlor that joined her room with her father’s. Queenie had sent up a hot meal of meat pies, wholesome vegetables and a sticky honey cake for dessert. A pitcher of freshly pressed apple cider accompanied the meal and Elanor heard her stomach growl at the lovely aromas from the food.

Lady Estelina had been called back downstairs and Elanor assured the woman that she would be fine on her own. Leaving the door open for the hobbit girl to call if anything was needed, she headed back to the main floor while Elanor hungrily dove into her meal.

Completely focused on the food it was some minutes before she felt something softly tapping her foot under the table. When she looked down, there was a little black and tan body sitting patiently by her chair gazing up at her with intelligent brown eyes.

“Hello, puppy!” Elanor exclaimed with delight. “Where did you come from?”

The little dog wagged her tail mightily and then stood up on her hind legs to beg a bite of the lass’s dinner.

“Are you hungry? Here you go…” she offered the animal a generous bite of one of her meat pies, which was eagerly accepted and eaten before it was barely chewed.

Elanor then heard quick steps in the corridor outside her room and she looked up to see another woman skid to a halt at the door. She was of average height with heavy reddish-brown hair tucked carelessly behind her ears. Not as slight as the Lady Estelina, she still had a bearing that spoke of a similar discipline. The girl began to wonder a little at so many seemingly independent women in one place.

“Ah, there you are, you little beggar!” the woman admonished the puppy. “I should’ve known you would find food if there was any to be had, Nildë!”

Nildë gave her mistress a saucy bark and the auburn-haired woman put a hand on her hip with a tolerant frown. Before she could speak again, a man came up behind her and said, “Did you find her then?”

He was not much taller than the woman, but he too carried himself with purpose and confidence. His hair seemed to be chestnut, though, it was difficult to tell for certain in the dim corridor where he stood. The one thing Elanor did notice about him was his bright blue eyes twinkling in the dark.

Looking back at the man over her shoulder with intimate familiarity, the woman answered, “Aye… pestering this poor lass when she’s trying to eat. I’m sorry, sweeting. I’ll just corral this little nuisance and let you get back to your tea…”

“Oh, please! You don’t have to… I mean… I don’t mind. I’ll even keep an eye on her if you’ve got something else to do,” stammered Elanor.

The woman raised a slim eyebrow and asked, “Are you sure, my dear? She’s quite a handful.”

“Please? Papa’s not going to let me go downstairs now that it’s evening. Looks like Nildë and I are stuck up here for the night. We might as well keep each other company…”

“She has a point, melethnín,” the man agreed with an impertinent smirk. “I could think of a few things we need to take care of…”

“I just bet you could,” the woman chuckled. The sound was earthy and low and Elanor thought it was one of the loveliest laughs she had ever heard. Were all the Human women as amazing as the ones she had met so far? Elanor hoped she would have an opportunity in the morning to find out!

As if to settle the matter, Nildë sat down at the little halfling’s feet to gaze steadily back at her mistress as if to say, “You two do what you want. I’m going to stay here where the food is!”

“Well, it seems the little defector has made her choice,” the woman sighed. “She’s welcome to stay with you, lass, as long as you’re sure you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind at all!” replied Elanor.

“Now, if she gives you any trouble, you come find one of us. I’m Aibreán and this is Tanner.”

“Please to meet you both,” the lass bobbed a quick curtsey. “I’m Elli Gamgee.”

The pair smiled broadly and Tanner said, “Well met, Mistress Elli.”

His eyes seemed to get more intensely blue as he smiled, while Aibreán’s crinkled up into curvy slits. Elanor would have to wait for daylight to determine their color.

Tanner then grabbed Aibreán’s hand and silently urged her to follow while she waved a little wistfully back at the hobbit girl and the puppy.

Elanor returned the wave and Nildë ran to the door to sit on the sill and watch her mistress being coaxed down the corridor. As soon as the couple disappeared into the night, the small dog ran back into the room and joyfully started chasing her tail.

Giggling at the puppy’s antics, Elanor sat on the floor after grabbing one of her hair ribbons to play tug-o-war with her. She was glad to have a diversion while the adults mingled with the patrons below in the main hall. Absently, the lass wondered if there would be anyone her age at the palace.


Some time later Samwise made his way sleepily up the stairs. Tanner, the ranger from the North, accompanied him thinking to collect the friendly little dog. Yet, when they reached the hobbit mayor’s chambers the gentlemen found both Elanor and Nildë sound asleep on the bed. The girl had dropped exhausted on top of the coverlet while the puppy curled up in the small of her back for warmth.

“Don’t they look peaceful lyin’ there,” sighed Samwise. Truth be told he was more than a little nervous that his little girl was going out into the big wide world for the first time. Sprawled on the bed with her golden hair trailing across the pillow, Elanor looked to her father like the delicate golden flower for which she was named.

“Just like two innocent younglings, but woe to us when they wake, eh?” the ranger chuckled. “I should take the little imp back to my lady…”

“Let her stay, my lord,” suggested Samwise. “They’re both asleep. It’d be a shame to disturb them. I’ll bring the puppy to Lady Aibreán in the morning.”

Tanner grinned rakishly, “I’ll probably get chewed out by Aubri, but I have to tell you I won’t be sorry to have the bed to ourselves again for a night!”

Returning the grin knowingly, Samwise spread another blanket over his daughter and the little interloper, “You go to your lady then, Tanner. I’m sure you’ll find a way to make it up to her…”

“Indeed I will, Master Gamgee!” he gave the hobbit a friendly pat on the shoulder. “Sleep well!”

Samwise responded in kind and the good-natured ranger sauntered off to find the Lady Aibreán in a very cheerful mood.

-end of Chapter Three-

*Queenie, Estelina & Aibreán (yes, I know...) are all Shieldmaidens brought together by a mutual need to break our "cages" as Éowyn speaks of in TTT. You will see more Shieldmaidens and hear more about our committment to one another in a further chapter.