Sitting at the campfire in Parth Galen, Lusseriel was looking unblinkingly at the rabbit sitting near her, that just looked at her right back, seemingly entirely unbothered.
It’s only a sound nearby that drew her attention away and broke the moment, and she huffed and started writting in her journal.
“We took a boat to come to the Argonath. Yes, one boat for all of us. That was a little… Cramped. But we made it without anyone falling in the water and drowning.
Somehow.
On arrival everyone seemed in awe of the Argonath. I’ll never understand that. What’s the point of being remembered for being the egotistical king of old who valued himself so high that he ordered a couple of statues high as a cliff of himself instead of keeping that wealth to ensure his people’s safety with military power or teaching healers or even schooling for people or creating something for orphans? The pleasure to say look at me I existed and only saw the value in myself while I lived?
Not even counting that workers could not have been working in safe conditions here while building those things. How many people were hurt or killed to create that monument to the ego of one king?
I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to be the healer in charge of it because the urge of shouting at that stupid king would have been far too strong.
Besides, having statues to his glory didn’t prevent him to fail in the end, did it?
Andrahir explained briefly to Rolegard, Ardirien and anyone willing to listen that they were statues of Isildur and Anarion, and about the arrival of the Numenoreans to Middle-Earth and the building of the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor.
Rolegard noted that the Argonath put the Boar Fountain to shame. Well, no, it doesn’t. For one the fountain is normal sized and has a purpose while those statues are ridiculous in size and serve only to glorify long dead self-centered kings.
But ah, it seems it was only my opinion and no one else’s. To each their own, if they like it, it’s their problem, not mine.
There seemed to have been some tension between Ardirien and Brunnadan.
Also, during our small and inconsequential argument about the Argonath (neither Andrahir or I were going to change our mind on the matter so…) Andrahir told me that, and here I quote : “I know I won't change your mind, Lusseriel. I don't share your attitude, but there is no finer healer I would have at my side against the shadow to come.”
I’m not a healer. Why can’t they get that? If they wanted a healer they should have asked for one in Imladris. I’m sure I know at least one who’d have been curious enough to come by just for the sake of traveling. I’m not made to be a healer, and more so for a group as varied as this one and as suicidal as this one.
He also said that: “So let us leave at that. We have our differences, and I still think you are gentler than what you show. Maybe.”
It’s like he never met me. I swear I’m my usual self. Admittedly, it’d help tremendously if they weren’t actively trying to get killed or injured on my watch.
But I gave up arguing the point with him, it’s like he doesn’t hear it when I say that I’m not a healer. I always get an answer along the lines of “yes sure”, and then two seconds later it always comes to “by the way this person is injured, can you heal them” so…
If someone dies I’ll remind them that they were warned.
We took our belongings from the boat and took turn going to gather wood for a fire while we rested and that. That was the Beginning of the End.
Because when I went to gather wood, of course I had to kill an orc that was in my way, but I also saw one unnatural looking dog going after a rabbit and I stupidly took pity on the rabbit and killed the dog. And that meal on legs decided to stick with me.
We decided to go explore the East Wall, and start our search in Parth Galen for hints and clues.
We found a road and tried following it to our destination. In the meantime, while we walked, I tried ignoring the rabbit in the hope it’d go away.
Rolegard noticed the creature of course and warned us that we “seemed to have another companion” Which, no!
Andrahir asked me if I thought of a name for it since the rabbit didn’t look like it was going to leave us. I was trying to convince it to leave me alone, why would I have named it?
So I answered “Stew”. Not like I’d eat it but it was the principle of the thing.
Rolegard proposed: “Mr Hops”.
Brunnadan told us that the rabbit of Morgoth’s invention because it can’t honestly be a normal rabbit with how stubborn it is was in fact a female if he was right and that it liked me.
Rolegard offered to call it Mrs Hops then.
But come on, just because I killed the dog that was attacking it, didn’t mean I wanted a companion.
Ilthirian asked Brunnadan if he had an affinity for animals. He answered yes, so while he was busy chatting with the others, mostly answering Ilthirian very numerous and curiously pointed questions, I may have tried to push Mrs Hops toward him.
To no avail.
Andrahir noticed however and seemed far too amused at my unsuccessful attempt.
I do wonder what Ilthirian’s looking for exactly. Perhaps she wants a pet…
Also Brunnadan found an elven arrow imbedded in a tree on our ways. Probably someone fighting the numerous orcs that plagued this road.
We found a camp, downward from our road. Brunnadan asked if we elves could tell whether they were orcs or men in that camp.
Well, I could see only men in the camp, but orcs were roaming around clearly enough so…
Brunnadan said the air was still here and the animals were quiet, and that it didn’t bode well. Well, yes, with the orcs I saw from above, quiet was a question of survival so I was not surprised.
On our way, we found a boat, half hidden, and a backpack abandoned on the floor. And a camp of seemingly friendly people, but I won’t risk my life on appearances thanks.
They invited us to stay the night in their camp and we accepted, and… they had rabbits cooking on a fire.
Rolegard was quick to reassure Mrs Hops : “Don’t look above the fire, Mrs Hops. Those are just evil rabbits.”
I’m sure Mrs Hops cared a lot for those rabbits…
I tried asking Rhudorn what he felt about having a rabbit pet but he seemed as unwilling as everyone else to take the furry evil from me.
Ardirien decided to keep watch and Brunnadan offered to join her. I’ll keep an eye out too, but I can’t shake the feeling that he’s trying too hard.
He really needs to step back a bit because I’m starting to wonder if she won’t end up deciding to get rid of him out of self-defense sooner or later otherwise. ”
Lusseriel sighed and closed her notebook, absentmindedly petting the ball of fluff settled next to her.
She caught herself mid-movement and sighed. No she would not give any reason to anyone to keep the rabbit.
