“Pathetic, arrogant and idiotic! Overconfident! Too sure of themselves!” I was mumbling under my breath, trying to calm myself down after the encounter with that…that idiot! The horse noted my annoyance and tossed its mane. I patted its neck encouragingly and continued to murmur. I was on a horse of Rohan, Arod, sitting in front of Legolas, as both of us preferred the elvish form of riding, without rein or saddle. Gimli, behind Aragorn, grinned, “And just whom are you muttering about, Faith?” I rolled my eyes, “Who do you suppose, Gimli?” “The Lord Eomer?” he suggested. I nodded slightly, “Yes but also the entire race of Men! They are annoying, stupid and, in general, just…” I broke off, not finding the right words. “Aragorn is of the race of Men,” Legolas mused. “No, Legolas. I thought that Aragorn is a Halfling. Of course he is a human! But Aragorn is different; he was brought up with elves! Stupid ones of the South! If I ever face that Lord again and he repeats his words or ones similar to them, I shall decapitate him. Miserable mortal!” Gimli looked forward to Aragorn, “Is she always like this after an encounter with a human?” He shrugged, “I do not know. Yet she had a similar reaction to the Lord Boromir, which was so visibly proven at the council.” “He deserved it!” I defended myself quickly before rolling my eyes and returning to cursing the Marshall. Stupid fool. Ah, eventually I shall calm down, yet until then, I shall amuse myself with mental taunts and insults. Calling my kin sorcerers and magicians. The nerve!

*

The forest of Fangorn! I touched a tree trunk gently and smiled before resuming searching the ground for a trace of the hobbits. Disheartened after several moments and no discoveries, I dropped my head. As the bright sun disappeared behind the thick net of branches and foliage, I sat on the ground and fumbled for a few moments with a twig before drifting off into a land where dreams seemed to be as vivid as the true world. At times I could not separate the two, and it was then when I felt the most fear. I could not identify reality from fiction.

*

“What is this of a man? An old man? Saruman… And the horses!” I pondered my companion’s words and Gimli chuckled, a light sound among this depressing news. “You chose a solemn time for merriment, Gimli. Care to inform us on what exactly you find so humorous?” “That a dwarf heard and saw clear events yet an elf did not!” Gimli grinned. “Well, considering how she has been denying herself such rest or sleep since the breaking of the Fellowship, it is not surprising!” Legolas chipped in and I scowled at him. Aragorn sharply looked at me, “What does Legolas mean, Faith?” I rolled my eyes and tossed my braid over my shoulder, “Mind him not. He has no idea of what he is talking about.” “Oh really? I have no idea do I?” Gimli increased his laughter, “You two elves quarrel more than any dwarf and elf!” I smiled faintly at this, “Well, being constant companions like siblings for more than an Age does that. And perhaps knowing a certain ranger for the majority of his life would also account for some of our numerous arguments.” Aragorn did not let down on Legolas’ notation. “Have you been sleeping at all, Faith?” “Legolas, I shall kill you at next opportunity for making a twisted lie,” I turned to the seated elf. Legolas looked up at me, “I do not lie, Faith.” I clutched the hilt of my sword and darted towards him. Gimli sat down and watched us cheerfully as Legolas leapt up to block my furious blows. I do not understand dwarves. Nor most elves. Nor humans. Whom do I understand? Or am I simply one, alone in a world that I cannot comprehend? If elves are supposed to be wise and all knowing, the Valar certainly failed with this one. I knew nothing and understood naught. And I was trapped here. Trapped.

*

“Riddles, hobbit footsteps, a mallorn leaf, a knife and cut ropes. I shall now officially add Halflings to the races that I do not understand!” There was a hint of bitter sarcasm in my voice among my light tones. “And whom else do you not understand, Faith?” Legolas’ low words echoed in my head. I changed to a soft whisper, “Elves, humans, dwarves…I understand none and none understand I. And that is the way it shall always be, until the end of Ages.” I took no comfort in his encouraging words and meekly continued my desperate grasping for answers, and not only concerning the Hobbits. Why? Why is the world like this? Why do I not understand, yet my kin do? Why me? My tears mingled with my hopeless thoughts and I impatiently brushed them away. Why? Why? Why? The answers must be at the end of the road, for this traveller sees none among her path. I fumbled with my gem caught onto the delicate chain and stared into its pale light. Again I felt vulnerable. And increasingly alone. I would find the answers. Even if they came with my death.