Chap. 9 - Healing and The Council Invite

~ ALEX'S POINT OF VIEW ~

I woke in a bed, with golden rays of sun streaming through an open window. A light breeze came in and rustled my hair. I was dressed in a loose, white gown, and the wound on my shoulder was bandaged. I touched the bandage. I winced. It still hurt.

I wondered how Frodo was, and if he was alright. My thoughts were interrupted by the sudden creak made by the beautiful wooden carved door.

Strider looked inside. He looked genuinely happy. I smiled as he came in.

"You are awake, Alex," he said, and stood at the foot of my bed.

I nodded, and slowly stepped out of bed. I lost my balance, and before I even came close to falling, Strider was there at my side. He caught me and gazed into my eyes. I blushed, and looked back.

"Thank you. I mean, for everything. For finding me, for taking me with you, for buying me those clothes, and saving me back at the watch tower. And now. Thank you for catching me," I said, and put my hand on his shoulder.

He smiled, and dipped his head. A sudden impulse overcame me, and I had to hug him to thank him for his kindness. I wrapped my arms around him.

Strider stiffened, but melted into me. He put his arms around my shoulders and we stood in an embrace until I pulled away. I wish I didn't; I had to say that I felt strangely empty without his arms. Strider nodded, and looked out the window.

"Is Frodo okay?" I asked.

"Yes. He is much better. Would you like to see him?" he replied.

I nodded, and he led me to Frodo's room. An elderly man with a beard was sitting with Frodo, and Sam, Merry, and Pippin were all talking to him. An elvish man with long brown hair looked at me, and smiled.

"You are awake," he said.

I gave a slight nod, and smiled back. Who is this man? I mean.. Elf?

Strider seemed to sense that I knew no one's names; and he introduced me, "Lord Elrond, this is Lady Alex."

Lord Elrond bowed, and I felt the urge to bow back. "Welcome to Rivendell."

"Thank you, my lord," I said. I looked at the old man. He stood up, and bowed."Lady Alex of Wyoming, I am Gandalf the Grey," Gandalf said.

"Pleasure to meet you," I said, and gave a slight bow.

Frodo looked up at me, and so did the other hobbits. I went to sit on the bed next to Frodo, and they all smiled at me.

"Lady Alex!" Pippin said, and gave me a hug. I hugged him back, "Pippin! Oh Merry! Sam!"

I gave all of them hugs, "Frodo! How are you feeling?"

Frodo smiled, "A lot better! Thank you for trying to protect me. Back at the watch tower."

I smiled, "It was an honor, Frodo."

I stood up. Gandalf and Lord Elrond went to go talk about something important, while I stayed in the room with the hobbits and Strider.

Strider held out his arm, and I took it. "I want to show you Rivendell."

As we were walking, we past many elves who all recognized Strider and said hello in elvish. Many elves and some dwarves and men came riding into the elvish city. I looked around in wonder. The buildings were amazing.

The trees were really old, and beautiful. We stopped on a bridge over looking a creek. I let go of Strider's arm, and leaned over the railing. The creek had the clearest water I had ever seen.

"Wow. This is really beautiful. I have never seen such beauty! And you lived here! Where I live, it's nowhere as beautiful as this," I said, and watched the water cascade down the rocky creek bed. Strider came up to stand next to me.

"I bet it's beautiful where you came from. You just get used to it's beauty. And when you leave, you wish you never left," he said.

He made a good point. "I do miss my home. My dad owned a shooting range. I had a bow, and I miss it a lot," I said, and frowned. I thought of my dad and my dogs.

Strider put his arm around my shoulder. "A shooting range? You had a bow? So you are an archer?"

I chuckled, "Yes. I am an archer. A shooting range.. It's where you shoot guns. Guns.. Guns are.." I made a gun shape with my hand. "They - Well most of the guns look like this. Bullets go in the magazine and-"

I finished explaining it. I looked at his face. He seemed kind of confused, and then he looked like he got the concept. I laughed and looked out at the city.

"What am I going to do now? I mean, now the ring is here and the hobbits can go home. But what about me? Am I going to stay here forever? When will I go home?" I asked no one in particular.

Strider seemed to ponder my statement, "I'm not sure the quest for Frodo is over."

I saw someone approaching us. I stood up straight, and looked in the direction the person was coming from. An elf seemed to be gliding towards us. The elf bowed in front of me, and handed me a letter. I muttered thanks, and looked at the wax sealed letter.

"It's from Lord Elrond," Strider said.

I examined the letter, and opened it. In delicate handwriting, the letter said:

Lady Alex, I invite you personally to the Council of Elrond. It will begin at noon. Please arrive promptly.

I looked at it again. "Are you invited?" I asked him. Strider nodded.

"It is confidential. Dangerous and impending doom issues shall be answered in the meeting," he said, "Don't go telling everyone."

I laughed, "Who would I go tell?"

Strider smirked, and then chuckled.

NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE THE COUNCIL!! AND THEN I CAN CALL STRIDER : ARAGORN. WHICH I HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTALLY DOING FOR A WHILE NOW