An Aussie in King AragornÂ’s Court Part 7

(Coralie teaches the hobbits to mosh)

Gimli was delighted that Coralie had consented to teach him the “YMCA” dance as she had done so with the hobbits. He snorked to himself and looked around. It would not do to have the others know about this. No one else had caught the exchange between them. He watched Coralie skip up the path beside Sam and the pony and smiled to himself. “The lady possesses rare energy…..She is like no other woman I’ve ever met.” He shook his head in wonder and fell back to walk with Boromir in the rear.

Coralie fell in beside Sam and the pony.

“Bill’s a fine pony Sam. Do you mind if I pat him?” she asked.

“Why, of course not!” responded Sam, surprised that she, a woman would take such interest in a pony. Most of the hobbit lasses he knew, felt that ponies were smelly creatures, more fit to the company of outdoor types like Samwise Gamgee, the gardener and such. Well, he didn’t mind the company of ponies. They were far more predictable and steady than the females he knew.

She gave the pony a good rub along his neck. “Oh he’s a grand one Sam. I bet he loves you a lot.”

Sam was extremely flattered that she had taken such a shine to Bill.

“Do you like horses then Coralie? You seem to act like you do. Tho’ I must say that is a strange thing for a woman to like.” He raised his eyebrows at her as he spoke.

“Well, Sam. I’ve had a couple of horses as pets in my time.” she answered.

“Pets!” he snorked. “Whoever heard of a woman keeping a horse for a pet? That’s not right. It ain’t decent. Nor respectable to say the least.” Sam was totally bewildered by Coralie’s response. The thought of keeping a horse for a pet was quite beyond his ken. Horses and ponies and such were kept for work, and not much else.

“When did you become so respectable Sam?” asked Frodo with a wink. “Seems to me that you’re one of the most disrespectable hobbits I know of, seeing the company you keep and all.” He waved his arm to include present company.

Merry and Pippin laughed as well. “Yes Sam, aren’t we on some sort of adventure?” countered Merry. “You can’t be all that respectable as you like to think.” The two of them trotted up beside Sam, Frodo and Coralie. The five of them fell in step with each other on the road.

Sam nodded in agreement. “Well you’ve got me there. Begging your pardon Coralie.
I never meanÂ’t to insult you or nothinÂ’. Just never heard of anyone keeping a horse for a pet before. I know I love Bill and all, but heÂ’s a workinÂ’ pony and I put him to good use. Women are very strange where you come from if they think that horses make good pets.
I would have thought that one of those silly little dogs that most women seem to keep these days would make a more suitable pet than poor Bill here for a lady such as yourself and all.” He was trying to sound apologetic now.

Coralie just laughed and patted Bill as she walked by his side.

“Where I come from, horses are just about a girl’s chief love. You wouldn’t believe how many girls dream about having their very own horse, Sam. It was all I ever thought about growing up,” she said.

“But what would you do with one Coralie. They can’t sit on your lap or nothin’ like a cat can.” Sam asked.

“Why ride it you silly billy. What else?” she cried.

“Ride it? Ride it?” Sam was flabbergasted. “Women can’t go out and about riding horses wherever they please. It’s just not done. Anyway, when would you find the time, what with house chores and children to look after and all?”

Coralie shook her head at Sam.

“Fair crack of the whip! You won’t catch me in the kitchen barefoot and pregnant mate!
I’m a liberated woman. I can do anything I want to ……including riding a horse for that matter!”

Boromir was bringing up the rear. “I’d like to see that M’lady.”

“See what?” Coralie spun around, hands on hips, eyes flashing.

“Oh no! Here they go again,” muttered Merry to Pippin.

“Well he better not say anything untoward this time. I rather like Coralie, now that I’ve got to know her a bit better, and I’m tired of Boromir’s boorish behavior.” sighed Merry.

Frodo turned around with hands in pockets. “Don’t worry lads, I think she can take care of herself.” He looked over his shoulder and winked at them.

Boromir put up his hand in defense. “I was merely referring to seeing you ride a horse Coralie. I would think it would make for a pretty sight.”

Coralie had stopped in front of him now and was eyeing him coolly. She detected no hint of sarcasm or anything else in his voice that may conceal a hidden meaning.

“In fact, I would recommend one of the horses of Rohan for you Lady. They are fine noble beasts to ride, full of fire and courage and would bear you proudly. I would consider it an honor to take you there myself on our way to Minas Tirith.”

The hobbits looked at each other in amazement. Was Boromir playing the gentleman with the lady?

Legolas came striding up to see what the hold up was.

“What’s wrong? Why have you stopped?” he asked looking at them keenly.

“Nothing Legolas. I was just telling the lady here that it would be nice to go for a ride with her sometime,” said Boromir as he walked past him. The hobbits and Coralie just shrugged at him.

“Sorry Legolas. I’m probably just being a wee bit female.”

Legolas raised his eyebrows at her. “A wee bit? Come. Let us go on. We still have a long journey ahead of us.”

Coralie and the hobbits fell in step together again.

Gimli looked up at Legolas. “Have no fear Master Elf. Boromir was most courteous and really did offer to take the lady riding. Although why anyone would even want to climb up on one of those beasts and be so far from the ground is beyond me.”

“You never know Gimli. You may like it, once you try it,” suggested Legolas looking down at his sturdy companion.

“There is no way that these legs of mine, will ever leave the stout earth to dangle over the sides of a horse Legolas! You can keep your horses, you and the lady there. Seems she kept a few for pets. Has no time for house chores or children either for that matter. Hrumph! What do women do where she comes from? Next she’ll be telling me that they have women in their armies, or some other nonsense like that,” said Gimli gruffly.

“Well actually, we do have women in our armies Gimli, although I have never been in the army myself. I was actually a school teacher for a while back home, and if that’s not enough to put you off kids for life, then I don’t know what is!” said Coralie over her shoulder.

“School teacher!” exclaimed Pippin in surprise. “I didn’t know they had women school teachers. What did you teach?” he was genuinely surprised. Women in the army! Women school teachers! What next?

“Ah Pippin. I can see that you have led a sheltered life,” chortled Coralie. “I was a music teacher for a while and I also taught young children up to the age of 12 the three r’s, although my true ambition in life was to be a singer.”

“The three r’s?” asked Pippin scratching his head. “What are they?”

“Reading, Writing and “Rithmetic…with a smattering of science, physical education and history thrown into the mix as well, among other things.”

“What’s physical education?” asked Sam, not wanting to be left out.

“You know exercise, sport, games, dance…” she replied.

“Like that work out you were doing!” said Sam, proud that he had gotten to the bottom of Coralie’s strange behavior that morning, fun though it was.

“Yes, that’s right!”

“And what were you doing in the tree?” inquired Frodo.

“I was doing chin-ups,” she answered

“But what are they for? Looked like a lot of hard work to me. I’d rather sit under a tree and read a book….. A far more pleasant way to spend your time, don’t you think?” said Frodo.

Coralie laughed. “Frodo, you’ve got me there mate. But no pain, no gain! I do chin-ups to
build upper body strength. Look……” she stopped and flexed an arm muscle for him.
The hobbits crowded round wide-eyed. Sam whistled.

“Not bad for a girl eh?” she said proudly. In truth it was not a very large muscle, such as a man would have, but it impressed them nevertheless. “I don’t go overboard though…just enough to keep me toned. I don’t want to end up looking like a man now.”

“Never fear Coralie. There is no way you could ever look like a man.” Legolas had also come up for a closer look. He had never seen a woman show off her muscles before.
Coralie blushed.

“Well physical fitness is very important.” Coralie continued with the hobbits. “But it must not be the only thing that you develop. Don’t forget your mind or your heart…”

“Or music!” interrupted Merry. “Please Coralie. Teach us some music.”

“Yeah! What about a song! You’d like to hear a song wouldn’t you Legolas?” asked Pippin in mock desperation over his shoulder at Legolas behind him on the road.
They were walking again, and Gandalf was right. It was to be a long, tiresome journey and Pippin was getting a bit bored with the whole thing. It was a beautiful day and he felt like a bit of a sing along. Who would have ever thought that the day before, they were caught in a blizzard on the slopes of Caradhras! The air had an almost spring like quality to it.

Legolas smiled back at him. “Alright, a song may help to ease the journey. What say you lady?”

Coralie trudged on ahead. “Well, alright. But I’m not going to sing it alone. Hefting this pack makes enough hard work by itself without trying to sing as well. How about I teach you something you can all join in on. Let me think for a minute.” The hobbits were hanging on her every word.

“I know a song with many parts that is popular with young people back home. It’s a classic actually …by a group called Queen.”

“How can a Queen be a group?” asked Sam doubtfully.

“Well a group is generally a couple of people (usually 4, although it can be less or more), who get together and play and sing music for fun and profit. They often come up with catchy names so people can remember them like Queen and the Beatles for instance.” Replied Coralie.

“The Beetles? Fancy calling yourself The Beetles!” exclaimed Merry joining in.

“Yeah. That’s almost as bad as Queen!” endorsed Sam.

“The Beatles were extremely popular Merry. In fact they revolutionized modern rock music and were the biggest selling popular group of their time. They still influence modern musicians to….Oh! I was going to say today, but I’m actually in the past, aren’t I? ……. So, that won’t happen for a long time yet.” She looked a bit wistful as she gazed up the road ahead. The hobbits were not to be put off though.

“So what is rock then? I take it, that it has nothing to do with rocks in the ground,” said Sam.

“You’re right about that Sam. Rock music is the most enduring style of music in modern times and spans part of the 20th and 21st centuries. It is still evolving. Or at least, will be. I don’t reckon that it will ever lose its popularity. Of course there are other styles of music too. It all had to do with the society and the times that you lived in. This greatly influenced the development of music. Music started off with basically simple chants and crude language on paper so it could be read by others and played again…..”

“Music can be read?” asked Frodo genuinely interested.

“Yes. And it has developed into a very precise art form. Even though rock music is the most popular style of music in my time, with many variations such as rock n’ roll, soft rock, and heavy rock, there are other forms of music that are related to it as well such as the blues, jazz, hip hop…”

“Hip hop?” asked Pippin inquisitively.

“Yes hip hop…must sound strange to you eh?” Pippin nodded in return. “It’s an offshoot of rap music another variation related to rock.” Coralie explained.

“Just how many different styles of music are there, where you come from Coralie?” asked Frodo.

“Oh my God! There are so many. Off the top of my head I can think of…I’m going to try and go in chronological order here if I can remember……
Okay, I think IÂ’ll start with IÂ’ll start withÂ…Â…..
Gregorian Chants,
Madrigals,
Baroque,
Opera,
ConcertosÂ…Â…Â….
Which brings me to Classical Music, such as;
Orchestral symphonies
Sonatas
(Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven were masters at composing this type of music) such as serenades, string quartets and symphonies involving whole orchestras of musicians….. Sometimes over 100 at a time playing all sorts of instruments.”

The hobbits and Legolas were listening intently now as they walked beside her, trying to imagine so many people playing at once. She went on with her list, counting them out on her fingers as she walked beside them.

“Ah, let me see…then came the Romantic Period in which music contained deeper emotional depth and built on the prevailing classic forms previously established.
Some of the great composers of this era were Brahms and Tchaikovsky who created even richer themes for operas, symphonies and ballets…..”

“What’s ballet?” asked Merry.

“Ballet is usually a story told in dance and performed on the stage. Female dancers are called ballerinas.” She replied. “It is usually danced to orchestral music such as Romantic or Classical…. now, hang on I haven’t finished yet…are you bored?”

“No! No!” The hobbits chimed in.

“Okay, so now I’m up to the 20th century, (a century is a period of 100 years). I’ve covered a period of about 500 years so far.” The hobbits looked at her in astonishment.

“Righty O!” she continued. “We then have……..
Impressionism,
Ragtime,
Folk Music (but thatÂ’s really been going on in the background all this time anyway),
Popular music by composers such as Gershwin, and Porter,
Jazz (which is all American music and still widely popular. There were great composers such as Duke Ellington, and brilliant instrumentalists like Louis Armstong and wonderful women singers such as Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan) ….”

“Women singers?” questioned Sam. “Seems women do all sorts of things in your world”.

Frodo rolled his eyes. “Never mind him Coralie. So you’re now talking about the twentieth century, and that is where this music called rock, started?”

“Why Frodo, you have been paying attention…I haven’t lost my touch….”

“How could we not pay attention, with such exceptional company as yourself.” Frodo bowed low. The others all laughed.

“Quite the gentleman, now aren’t we?” giggled Pippin. Frodo cuffed him on the side of the head.

“Go on Coralie. I want to hear more,” said Frodo half annoyed at Pippin making fun of him.

“Alright boys, I’m almost finished. From jazz we get the blues. You know, there’s an old saying in music circles that the blues had a baby and they called it rock ‘n roll!” The hobbits laughed delighted at this description.

“Rock ‘n roll is a mixture of the blues and country music (Yet another musical style I’d forgotten all about), and the person who made that a world wide phenomenon was Elvis Presley. He was called the ‘King of Rock ‘n Roll!….”

“Funny name for a king!”

“Sam! Stop interrupting!” Frodo looked up at Coralie. “Go on please!”

“Are you sure you want to hear more of this?” she asked, reluctant to continue.

“Yes!” the hobbits cried at once.

“Well, blow me down with a feather. You boys make excellent students. Most kids, where I come from, think they know everything and you just about have to sit on them to make them listen.” Coralie responded.

“I can’t imagine that they would complain too much about that Lady,” said Legolas with amusement in his eyes.

“Legolas!” she blushed “What’s going on here?” she thought to herself. “That’s the second time he’s made me blush today.”

“Your pardon Coralie.” His eyes twinkled. Coralie turned back to the hobbits.

“Alright guys, that’s about it. I’ve already told you about The Beatles and the influence they had on rock music and so on. Look …… on my Clie computer; I have thousands of music files that I’ve downloaded covering just about everything I’ve told you. You’re welcome to try it out for yourself later on if you like.”

“Can we really?” asked Frodo sweetly. Coralie ruffled his hair.

“I said so, didn’t I?” she said smiling down at him. “Now how about we get back to Queen? I have their song Bohemian Rhapsody on file and I can play it on the speakers for you, so you can join in as we walk. Whaddya reckon?”

“Yes please!” they cried grinning from ear to ear.

She and Legolas laughed at their enthusiasm as she dropped her pack to get her player and speakers out.

“Now hang onto Bill there, Sam. I don’t think he will be used to this type of music. I won’t play it too loud, so as not to spook him, okay.” Sam nodded back, grasping Bill’s lead rope tightly. She tied her speakers on the back of her pack. “Now I warn you lads. This is going to be very different….”

She pressed play. The hobbits had her play the song over and over. They were totally engrossed with this new ‘amusement’ and argued over who would sing what in the song.

“Ahem, Teacher. I think you will need to get some order here,” said Legolas laughing.
Coralie put her fingers in her mouth and whistled. They all stopped and stared. Even Gandalf and Aragorn who were leading up front turned around. Legolas signaled that they were alright and to go on.

“Yes I know, I’m as rough as guts…and you will be too if you don’t mind!” she glared down at them.

They had no idea what she was saying but she looked like she would eat them all for breakfast if they made one false move.

“Sorry Coralie. Guess we’re a little over enthusiastic,” said Frodo looking up at her with appeal in his bright blue eyes. It was all she could do not to chuckle.

“Okay. You’re forgiven.” She really couldn’t stay mad at them for long. “Now, I will appoint you your parts so that there will be no further argument. Get it?”

“Got it!” they sang.

“Good”. She stopped and pointed at them one by one telling them exactly where to come in. They’d been practicing for a bit now and wanted to put it all together.

“Okay boys! Here we go!”

Coralie and Hobbits: Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide,
No escape from reality.
Open your eyes, Look up to the skies and see,
Frodo: I’m just a poor boy, I need no sympathy,
Coralie and Hobbits: Because I’m easy come, easy go, little high
little low,
Any way the wind blows doesn’t really matter to
me, to me.

Frodo: Mama just killed a man,
Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger,
now he’s dead.

“What’s a gun?” interrupted Pip. They all groaned.

“Couldn’t you wait until we finished the song to ask Pip? Now we have to start again,” Merry grumbled. He looked up at Coralie. “What is a gun anyway?”

Coralie slapped her hand to her forehead. “Oh my God! What have I started…? The best way to describe it is a weapon of sorts which you can fire from a distance and put a hole in someone. People usually die. ‘Owzat?”

“My! That sounds like a serious weapon. Are there many?….” his question remained unfinished.

“Merry! Can we go on please?” Frodo was more than a little annoyed. “Any other questions?” he asked pinning them all with a glare.

“No!” They groaned.

“Please Coralie. Can we start again?” begged Frodo.

“You are very brave Lady,” whispered Legolas in her ear. Coralie sighed.

“Alright. If you are SURE there are no more questions, we can start again. Are you ready?”

“Yes!” They chorused at once.

“Here we go again. From the top!” she started the song again.

Coralie and Hobbits: Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide,
No escape from reality.
Open your eyes, Look up to the skies and see,
Frodo: I’m just a poor boy, I need no sympathy,
Coralie and Hobbits: Because I’m easy come, easy go, little high,
little low,
Frodo: Any way the wind blows doesn’t really matter to
me, to me.
Coralie & Hobbits: Anyway the wind blows (In background)

Frodo: Mama just killed a man,
Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger,
now he’s dead.

Mama, life had just begun,
But now I’ve gone and thrown it all away.
Mama, ooh, Didn’t mean to make you cry,
If I’m not back again this time tomorrow,
Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters.

Too late, my time has come,
Sends shivers down my spine, body’s aching all
the time.
Goodbye, ev’rybody, I’ve got to go,
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth.
Mama, ooh, I don’t want to die,
I sometimes wish I’d never been born at all.

(Frodo was looking very tragic, whilst the others patted him on the back in sympathy)

Sam: I see a little silhouetto of a man,
Merry and Pippin: Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the
Fandango.
Sam: Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very fright’ning
me.

Merry: Galileo.
Pippin: Galileo.
Merry: Galileo.
Pippin: Galileo,
Merry: Galileo figaro
Sam: Magnifico.
Merry, Pippin & Sam: OH! OH! OH! OH!
Frodo: I’m just a poor boy and nobody loves me.
Sam: He’s just a poor boy from a poor family,
Spare him his life from this monstrosity.
Frodo: Easy come, easy go, will you let me go.
Merry: Bismillah! No, we will not let you go.
Sam and Pippin: (Let him go!)
Merry: Bismillah! We will not let you go.
Sam and Pippin: (Let him go!)
Merry: Bismillah! We will not let you go.
Frodo: (Let me go.)
Sam and Pippin: Will not let you go.
Frodo: (Let me go.)
Sam and Pippin: Will not let you go.
Frodo: (Let me go.) Ah.
Merry, Pippin and Sam: No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Coralie: (Oh mama mia, mama mia.)
Frodo: Mama mia, let me go.
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me,
Coralie and Hobbits: for me, for me.

The hobbits broke into wild abandon, playing their best air guitar and ‘head banging’, and moshing as Coralie had shown them.

Gandalf and the others looked back down the road at them.

“What are they doing?” he asked curiously.

“Looks like they’re fighting.” said Aragorn.

Gandalf sighed. “Well no matter. I guess they have to get it out of their system. Anyway, Legolas is with them and he will see that they come to no harm. Boys will be boys so they say.” They continued on their way.

Coralie and hobbits: So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye.
So you think you can love me and leave me to die.
Oh, baby, can’t do this to me, baby,
Just gotta get out, just gotta get right outta
here.
(The hobbits were excitedly singing at each other)

Nothing really matters, Anyone can see,
Nothing really matters,
Nothing really matters to me.

Any way the wind blows.

Legolas was shaking his head and laughing. He didnÂ’t quite know what to make of it all. It seemed the hobbits loved high drama.

“Well done Lady!” he laughed.

“Now what about the Beatles?” What did they sing?” asked Pippin with determination.

“You can’t be serious. You lot never miss a trick do you?” said Coralie in surprise.

“That’s right! We’re good students. “The Beatles were extremely popular…In fact they revolutionized modern rock music,” intoned Frodo, as he quoted Coralie from her little speech earlier.

Coralie and Legolas looked at each other with brows raised.

“Seems that they were paying attention, after all, Coralie. I think that they deserve some reward for their efforts.” Legolas smiled at her.

“Okay, Okay. You will have your wish. Something from the Beatles eh? Let me see.” She looked at the files on her player. “I know. I really like this one. It’s called, ‘I want to hold your hand.’ Does that sound good to you?”

The hobbits nodded so enthusiastically she thought their heads may roll off.

“Look! Don’t do yourselves an injury there. Here. The words are very easy to learn. Much easier than the other. I thought I’d wear you out with that one. Looks like I was wrong.”

They all laughed at her words and clapped their hands eagerly in anticipation. The music danced around them on the road. They quickly learned the words of the song and soon were dancing around fighting over just who would hold CoralieÂ’s hand. Bill just plodded along beside Sam, sure that his master had lost his mind.

http://kulichki-alt.rambler.ru/beatles/i_want_to_hold_your_hand.mid

Oh yeah I tell you somethin’
I think you’ll understand
When I say that somethin’
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand

Oh please say to me
You’ll let me be your man
And please say to me
You’ll let me hold your hand
Now, let me hold your hand
I want to hold your hand

And when I touch you
I feel happy inside
It’s such a feelin’ that my love
I can’t hide
I can’t hide
I can’t hide

Yeah, you got that somethin’
I think you’ll understand
When I say that somethin’
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand

And when I touch you
I feel happy inside
It’s such a feelin’ that my love
I can’t hide
I can’t hide
I can’t hide

Yeah, you got that somethin’
I think you’ll understand
When I feel that somethin’
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand

The hobbits just coulnÂ’t get enough of The Beatles. They insisted that Coralie play more BeatleÂ’s songs from her files and sang along to such classics as

Help (3 times) http://www.hokuriku.ne.jp/yuma/midi/help-b.mid

She Loves You (6 times) http://www.hokuriku.ne.jp/yuma/midi/shelovesu-b.mid

(The hobbits absolutely loved the “Yeah Yeah Yeah’s! Frodo, Pippin and Merry also enjoyed substituting “Rosie” for “She” much to Sam’s embarrassment)

Love Me Do (4 times) http://www.hokuriku.ne.jp/yuma/midi/love_me_do-b.mid

Twist and Shout (7 times) http://www.rena.gr/midi/beatles/twist_and_shout_1.mid
Coralie showed the hobbits how to twist. This became a favorite dance of theirs.

With a Little Help From My Friends (4 times) http://deedee.pcsos.com/Music/withalittlehelp.mid

OctopusÂ’ Garden (3 times ) http://thor.prohosting.com/~sandoz/midis/beatles/05_Octopus_Garden.mid

All You Need Is Love (5 times) http://thor.prohosting.com/~sandoz/midis/beatles/14_All_You_Need_Is_Love.mid

I Wanna Be Your Man (4 times) http://h.escourolle.free.fr/music/beatles/iwbym.mid

And A Hard DayÂ’s Night (lost count) http://www.hokuriku.ne.jp/yuma/midi/hard-b.mid

After playing the song for the umpteenth time for the hobbits Legolas held up his hands.

“Stop! Stop! This is too much. I’m sorry Lady; there must be other music. Coralie. Please help an old Elf’s ears out……”

“Old Elf?” thought Coralie. “He only looks about 25!”

“Do you know anything pretty?” he almost pleaded.

“Pretty?” The hobbits all said at once.

“I’m sorry boys. Legolas is right. Contrary to popular opinion, you can have too much of a good thing, sometimes!” laughed Coralie at their down cast looks. “Anyway, I don’t know how much more of The Beatles, I can take at the moment either.”

The hobbits looked genuinely disappointed.

“I suppose you’re right Coralie. We were getting a bit carried away there,” said Frodo sheepishly.

“Sure thing. If our Master Elf wants something pretty, then have it he shall. What do you have Coralie? Got anything pretty there?” asked Merry joyfully.

Coralie reached for her player. Legolas touched her arm gently.

“Nay Coralie. I would rather hear just your voice for a change.”

She looked at him and smiled at his earnestness. “Alright Leggy. I know a song that may be more to your liking. Here…” She took off her pack and handed it to him. “I can’t possibly do this song justice and carry this pack as well.”

“What about your muscles Coralie?” asked Legolas mischievously.

Coralie rolled her eyes at him. “I’m still a girl, remember?”

“How could I forget?” he thought. “Your pardon Lady. I would be only to glad to oblige.” He said graciously. She walked a little ahead of him with the hobbits.

http://www.cathollerton.clara.net/fields_of_gold.htm

You’ll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You’ll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we walk in fields of gold

So she took her love
For to gaze awhile
Upon the fields of barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among the fields of gold
Will you stay with me, will you be my love
Among the fields of barley
We’ll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we lie in fields of gold

See the west wind move like a lover so
Upon the fields of barley
Feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth
Among the fields of gold

I never made promises lightly
And there have been some that I’ve broken
But I swear in the days still left
We’ll walk in fields of gold
We’ll walk in fields of gold

Many years have passed since those summer days
Among the fields of barley
See the children run as the sun goes down
Among the fields of gold
You’ll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold
When we walked in fields of gold
When we walked in fields of gold

Legolas and the hobbits fell silent at the gentle calling of this songbird. Her voice caressed them with the sweet melody. ItÂ’s mellow fragrance brought remembrances to each one of happier times. Once more Frodo and the hobbits felt as though they were tripping over the little streams and running gaily through the rich fields of the Shire. Legolas shared their memories and looked at Coralie with newfound wonder.

“Does she know the power she possesses in her voice?” he wondered. “It is like a light upon the meadows of my spirit.” He studied her again, under the golden ‘sun in his jealous sky’ as she walked in contemplation beside the hobbits. They were unwilling to break the peaceful spell she had unwittingly woven, and remained silent as they approached the others who had been waiting patiently up ahead.

Gandalf met them. He was initially going to reprimand the hobbits for their outrageous behavior on the road earlier. But instead he paused, and noted the calm mood that had apparently come upon them. It was almost palpable.

“Well, I’m glad to see that walking beside Legolas and Coralie has had some calming effect on you boys,” he nodded approvingly.

“More than you know,” thought Legolas.

”We must reach the doors of Moria by sunset,” continued Gandalf. “ And I feared that you would spend all your energy before we got there. It is not far, but we follow a winding path, and Aragorn cannot guide us; for he has not walked often in this country, and I have only once traveled to the Western Door and that was long ago. There it lies,” he said, pointing away south eastwards to where the mountains’ sides fell sheer into the shadows at their feet.

Aragorn and Boromir strode up to meet them, whilst Gimli remained, leaning on his axe gazing with anticipation towards their goal.

“Let us go!” said Gandalf walking away. Boromir came up to Legolas who was still holding Coralie’s pack over his shoulder. She stood beside him with her hand shading her eyes as she surveyed the valley ahead.

“Legolas, I will take the lady’s pack for awhile and lighten your load.”

Legolas had been caught off guard. He had not expected Boromir to offer to carry CoralieÂ’s pack. Coralie reached for the pack on LegolasÂ’ shoulder before he could respond.

“Thanks, but no thanks. I can carry my own pack. I’m sorry Legolas. I forgot you still had it on,” she said.

“No Lady.” said Boromir as he took the pack from her. This is a difficult path we tread, and I wish to be of service to you. Come.” He entreated. “Let us be on our way.” He ushered her gently forward, knowing that she would protest his gallantry. After they had walked a ways ahead, Aragorn came over and looked sternly down at the hobbits.

“It is a good thing that you stopped fighting when you did. You would not have liked to see my wrath. Fighting in front of a lady as you were is most unbecoming. Our road is hard. There is danger enough ahead without inviting it amongst ourselves.”

“What are you talking about, Aragorn? We weren’t fighting!” protested Frodo.

“But we saw you from afar. You were fighting on the road a ways back,” countered Aragorn. He loomed over them his grey eyes grim as he met theirs.

“But we weren’t fighting! Honest!” protested Merry.

Aragorn looked at Legolas who was desperately trying to choke the laughter in his throat.

“It is true Aragorn. They weren’t fighting but dancing instead.”

Aragorn relaxed his stance a little. “Then that was the strangest dancing I have ever seen. In truth you looked to be fighting amongst yourselves. Where did you learn this dance?”

The hobbits and Legolas broke out laughing. “From the lady of course!”

Aragorn laughed with them. “I might have known!”

Suddenly Gandalf, who had pressed on ahead, turned and waved them along.

“Come hobbits. Let’s make our way quickly before Gandalf gets worried……”
He looked at them and winked. “And no more dancing.”

They nodded grinning in agreement and leapt up the path behind him.

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