Chapter Twenty One - To Imladris or not to Imladris



Andoras Headstrong, true to his name, stood up arrogantly on the stirrups of his pony.
"Tell me, friends," he asked, "Why do you think a city of elven folk will welcome us with open arms? We are not on a quest for them or amyone else but for our own selfish need."

"Besides we do not have time to dally around in pretty palaces," grunted Thoro.

Andoras nodded, "If you feel we should really go to Rivendell, explain to me why... or I daresay this fine gathering will be breaking sooner than I feared."

Rosa bowed her head and kept silent yet again. Maybe he's right. We don't need to go to Rivendell and get lectured by Elves. Telling us what we can and cannot do. We are on this quest for ourselves not for others.
She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and smiled. Andoras was right. We do not need the Elves council.

Mentha turned to face Andy. "I can't think of any reason not to stop there, Andy. Its not like we're racing for this treasure. We don't even know if its really there. But I do know a lot of reasons we should go to Rivendell. As far as I know, the elves are a welcoming people, and they'll give us shelter, and a couple of nights in real, safe beds. And we should refuel our supplies, they may be able to sell us food and things. If time is as pressing as Thoro suggests, then we shouldn't be wasting time hunting."
Mentha stopped, not having meant to say that much that fast. She glanced to Tim and Amy for support.

Tim was glad Mentha had said something. He stepped forward, then.
"Yes, Andy, Mentha's right. I've met plenty of Elves, and not one has ever tried to do me harm. "
He glanced at the provisions on their pony. "No offense to Miss Ruby, but I would like to eat something that hadn't been cooked over a campfire--actually, I really can't remember the last time I myself have done that, personally. Elves are wonderful healers as well, and can give us things to help in case we run into some sort of trouble. What use will treasure be, if it's even out there, if we all starve or die of a wound? "

Andoras stood on his stirrups and pondered over what Mentha and Tim were saying. Both of them were older and wiser than he, but he needed more convincing, he looked up inquiringly at the elf healer.
"Will these elf kin of yours not try to disaude or even forcibly prevent us from going to this Mordor place?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

The others too looked expectantly at Alythiel.


"They will not forcibly keep us at Imladris, friend Andoras. As for dissuading us, well, I do not know. But you have managed to ignore my counsel well enough. And if you wish to go on, Elrond will not stop you. But it would truly be madness to forego peace and safety, at least for a time."
Alythiel looked expectantly at the face of Andoras, wondering what he would say.


Ruby had been following the heated discussion without much interest. She did not really mind where they went, so she had kept silent. Whichever way the group went, she knew she would go with Andoras. He was incapable of looking after himself and she knew he would starve within a few hours if she abandonned him. She sighed and wondered what he'd decide and whether it would be a smaller band who set off to find the treasure.


Thoro plopped his axe on the ground and leaned on the handle by his stocky right elbow, scratching his generous rump with his left hand.
"Hurmm, What do you say, young Andoras? I have no more quarrell with the elfkind as I have now seen what they are really like. Many thanks to my friend Gimlo and also to the elf maid here. What say you, my young friend?"

Stroking his beard he looked expectantly at the young hobbit lad and then at the pretty little Rosa who sat behind him. He glanced at Ruby and Tom and grunted disapprovingly, leaning on his mighty axe all the while.

Ame sat close to Harry and hugged him tightly. She wasn't paying any attention to the argument.
She would go with Harry. But then again, what about Mentha? That was the bit of a problem.


Andoras sat back on his saddle, a look of consternation on his face. He pondered hard for a while. Mentha's words were not only wise but very practical, he thought. And leadership was not always about charging into things. Certain decisions should be made with more tact and finesse than others. Besides a good leader always cared for the welfare and feelings on his followers.
The young hobbit lad looked at Harry as Amy held on to him tightly, he glanced up at Alythiel, whose large doe like eyes met his with a look of concern. He looked down at Thoro, even the dwarf had put aside his undeniable dislike of the elf people and was ready to visit them.

Then Rosa put her arms around Andoras from behind him and whispered into his ear, "My darling, you know I would go to the ends of the earth with you, knowing full well that you would protect me with your life anywhere. But I am a wee bit tired of all this travelling in the wilderness. Maybe a few days of luxury and relaxation would do us all good and refresh us much so that we can resume our quest further with higher spirits."
The little hobbit lass finished with a gasp, it was far too much she had uttered in a long while and was nearly out of breath.

But that was all Andoras needed to crack, his iron hard resolve melted like butter in the warm sun at the reasonings of his lady love.

Andoras stared blankly ahead, then looked at Alythiel and said, "Allright, I suppose we could spend a day or two in this Rivendell. Show us the way, friend elf."

Alythiel breathed a deep sigh of relief and the others around echoed her. "A wise decision, dear Andoras," the elf maid smiled, "We will be there in a few hours. Come!"

"You did the right thing," Mentha came over and told Andoras, then she hugged Rosa, "I don't know what you said to him, young lady, but I am grateful to you for it."

Rosa smiled sweetly, holding on to Andoras tight, as the young hobbit nudged his pony forward.


"Onward!" roared Thoro, "To Imladris!"


Tim almost clapped his hands with happiness. He was getting rather tired of all this wandering in the wilderness, too--while he had pretty much lived in it most of his life, he hadn't ventured very far out of his grove. He heaved a sigh of relief as they went on.

The party moved on slowly and yet no one noticed that Gimlo was missing, not even Thoro.