Unexpected Crossover #5

	"The company of the Ring shall be nine," said Elrond.   "Against the
nine riders shall be set nine walkers.  With you and your servant,
Gandalf shall go, for this is to be his great task.  The others shall
represent the Free Peoples of the world; Legolas for the elves, and
Gimli son of Gl�in for the Dwarves.  For men you shall have Aragorn son
of Arathorn, for this matter of the ring concerns him closely."

	"Strider" cried Frodo.

	"Yes," said Strider.  "And with me will come Boromir of Minas Tirith. 
He is a valiant man, and our road will be hard.

	"There remain two more," said Elrond, "and I suggest that Lina and
Gourry travel with you."

	All heads turned to regard the two figures stuffing themselves at the
end of the table.  Gourry nudged his companion.  "Hey, Lina, they're
looking at us."  He gave a little wave.

	"Absolutely not," said Gandalf.  "Gourry, for all his lack of wit, is a
fine swordsman and an honest man, but I will not travel a single league
with Lina the Red."

	"Well, that's fine!" said Lina. "Guess we'll have to stay here, then,
huh?"  She reached for another drumstick.

	"Gandalf, old friend, please be reasonable," said Elrond.  "Lina may be
unpredictable, but her heart is in the right place.

	"Gandalf, sir," said Gourry, "I can vouch for Lina.  We've shared many
a long journey together."

	"Gourry!" objected Lina.  "What are you doing?  I don't *want* to go!"

	"Come on, Lina." said Gourry.  "It's a desperate, dangerous quest to
free the land from evil!  You said that's what you always wanted."

	Lina folded her arms.  "You shouldn't listen to me.  I lie a lot."

	The door burst open and a petite elf-maid rushed into the room.  She
wore a simple white gown, and her long golden hair was first bound
tightly into twin spheres, then allowed to fall in twin streamers down
her back.  Lovely she was, but awkward and ungainly as a young colt. 
Frodo knew her name:  Arwen, Elrond's daughter, born unexpectedly no
more than fourteen seasons ago.  She stood, panting and wild-eyed, as if
she had been running.
	
	"I want to go with my _Ara-chan_," she said in the High Tongue, then,
in the common speech, "I want to go with my love."

	A shocked gasp arose from the company, accompanied by a derisive snort
from Lina.  Arwen ignored them, standing trembling but head high.

	Elrond shook his head firmly.  "No."

	Tears filled her eyes, spilling down her cheeks.  "But I _have_ to! 
He'll _die_ if I don't!"

	"You can't know that, Arwen," Gandalf answered.  "Your courage is
admirable, but you are still a child.  You have much to learn about
life, and love, and this struggle belongs to your elders."

	"Pleeease?"

	Elrond Halfelven reached up and rubbed his temple gently.  "Arwen, I
said 'no.'  When I say 'no,' I usually mean 'no.'  I do not mean 'yes,'
or 'maybe,' or 'ask me again in two seconds,' or even 'perhaps if you
whine and cry at me for a while.'  I mean 'no.'  Am I perfectly clear on
this point?"

	Arwen lost the last remains of her composure.  "Daddy, daddy, you don't
underSTAND!  He'll really really die if I don't go!  I saw it!  Daddy,
please, I'm really really not making this up!"

	"Arwen . . . would you like a time out?"

	Arwen turned and bolted for the door.  Blinded by tears, she stumbled
over an inconveniently placed Samwise and crashed to the floor. 
Ignoring the flattened hobbit, she climbed to her feet, sobbing loudly,
and pelted out the door and down the long hall.  Frodo helped his
servant to his feet.

	"Good parenting skills," commented Lina.

	Elrond stabbed a long forefinger at her.  "You are no longer welcome
under my roof.  Gourry may stay or go as he pleases, but you will be
gone by sunrise tomorrow, with Gandalf if he will take you, alone if
not."  He rose to his feet.
	
	Pippin spoke up urgently.  "Master Elrond, we want to go with cousin
Frodo.  If Lina and Gourry go with the company, there will be no room
for us."

	"Speak with Gandalf about it," said Elrond shortly.  "I must find my
daughter."  He strode from the room.

	"So.  Crack of Doom, huh?" said Lina, into the following silence. 
"Doesn't sound so bad."

	"That's the spirit, Lina!" enthused Gourry.

	Gandalf raised his bushy eyebrows at her.  "Oh?  So now that you've
managed to mortally offend Elrond, Mordor seems the less perilous path? 
How things change.  Between you and Pippin, I'm not sure who is worse;
he has the excuse of youth, at least."

	Lina looked at him smugly.  "Yeah, but you're gonna take me with you
because I'm the one you want to keep an eye on.  The thought of me
knocking about loose scares you more than me coming with you."

	Gandalf sighed.  "Isildur had his bane, and you are mine.  I'm sorry,
Pippin, but Lina's right--only she can be as much a nuisance far as
near.  I'm afraid your troublemaking skills come in second best."

	Pippin bowed formally.  "I understand, Gandalf.  May we return to our
rooms?"

	Gandalf raised an eyebrow, but nodded.

	As the two trotted back up the hall, Merry remarked, "You gave in much
too quickly.  What are you thinking?"

	Pippin gave him an innocent look.  "Why, cousin, merely that we might
take a stroll around the countryside after the company leaves.  And if
that stroll happens to head south, towards Carhardras . . ."

	"Can I come?" Arwen's voice came from behind them, causing both hobbits
to jump.

-- David