Chapter Text
The sea was more beautiful than Pimpernel Took had ever imagined. Small white waves gently lapped at the warm golden sand beneath her feet, dozens of seagulls and albatross darted across the cloudless sky, and the turquoise water deepened to a rich blue toward where it seemingly touched the sky. According to stories, beyond the visible horizon was a paradise ruled by the Valar themselves.
No wonder so many Elves are choosing to sail into the west, Nell thought as she breathed in the salty sea air. If given the choice, she might’ve done the same.
But now was not the time for daydreaming. Adjusting the basket on her arm, she continued her way down the beach, searching for the cave that presumably housed the monster.
Nell, along with her mother and sisters, had arrived at the Gray Havens the day before. Not to sail (whoever heard of a Hobbit sailing?), but because the cold winters of the Shire became too much for Eglantine Took’s arthritis to bear. For her sake, the family doctor strongly advised a trip to the more temperate seaside until springtime.
Since Eglantine was only a Took by marriage, she wasn’t very enthused until Paladin suggested their daughters go with her and they make a holiday of it. He even went so far as to write his old friend Círdan asking for accommodation arrangements for the four Hobbit women, to which Círdan replied they could stay in his own palace.
It was while the three sisters were out sightseeing on their first day in Mithlond that they met some merchants from a neighboring village who warned them about a certain local legend.
“In a cave by the sea there lives a monster.”
They spoke of a hideous creature living in a dark cave. What once might’ve been an Elf lord was now a thing of skin and bones and long red hair, clothed in rags and cradling a wooden box. The box itself was rumored to be filled with gold or Elven jewels; once in a while, thieves and treasure hunters would try to take the box from the beast, but the few that lived to tell the tale spent the rest of their days with a haunted look in their eyes. Occasionally some bold children would venture into the cave on a dare only to run home screaming that the monster tried to eat them.
“If you come across a cave on the beach shaped like the open mouth of a dragon, don’t go inside - don’t even go near it - for that’s where the monster resides, waiting for someone to devour.”
Pearl and Pervinca assured the merchants they wouldn’t go looking for the cave, but Nell…she couldn’t help but feel sad for the monster. He was living in a cave all alone; did no one ever think that the reason he tried to eat people was because no one ever brought him food? The merchants said the monster was once an Elf, not an orc, a goblin or a troll.
A cave shaped like a dragon’s mouth, huh?
Before second breakfast the next day, she filled a basket with as much food as she could carry and a small lantern. She told Pearl and Pervinca she was going to explore the beach, then she set off.
The merchants had greatly exaggerated the shape of the cave entrance: there were some jagged rocks along the top that could look like dragon teeth if one squinted in a certain kind of lighting, but the bottom was worn smooth by the waves and tide, with brightly colored crabs scurrying around on the sand. It gave Nell some hope that the monster stories had been exaggerated, too.
However, it didn’t stop the sudden nervousness she felt. Hopefully the monster would see that she meant him no harm and she wouldn’t try to steal his box, regardless of what sort of treasures it held. And hopefully he wouldn’t try to eat her.
She knelt on the ground to get the lantern out of her basket. After lighting it (and giving an apple slice to a begging little crab), she stood and took a deep breath.
“Eru, give me courage,” she prayed before entering the cave.
The cave was deeper than she originally thought, and was a labyrinth of twists and turns. It took several minutes to find the very back of the cave.
The sight that greeted her nearly broke her heart.
Sitting against the back wall of the cave was the “monster.” He definitely looked more like an Elf than one of the dark creatures, and yes, he was scarred, scrawny, ragged, and taller than any person she had ever seen, yet he didn’t seem at all menacing to Nell. He clutched the wooden box as if he were protecting it, his shoulders hunched as if the entire weight of Middle Earth were crushing him. And even with his head bowed and from where she stood she could almost feel the overwhelming grief practically radiating from him.
The poor thing. He must be so lonely.
She brushed off these melancholy thoughts, not wanting him to sense them and become even more depressed than he already was. Putting on her most winning smile, she approached the so-called monster.
“Good morning, sir,” she said brightly, stopping far enough away so she wouldn’t crowd him. “My name’s Pimpernel Took, but my family and friends call me Nell. What’s your name?”
Silence. Aside from his steady breathing, he didn’t even so much as twitch to acknowledge her presence.
Nell shrugged, not at all discouraged by his lack of response.
“It’s alright, you don’t have to tell me.”
Setting down the basket, she proceeded to set up the picnic she had brought with her.
“I suppose you’ve never met a Hobbit before,” she continued, clearing away shells and rocks to lay down the blanket. “Hobbits don’t normally leave the Shire, unless they have Took lineage; us Tooks tend to have a penchant for adventures. I’ll be staying in the area with my family through the winter.”
She knew it was unwise to reveal exactly where she was staying and who the aforementioned family consisted of. She knew it was unwise to come here at all, for that matter.
“We’ve only arrived yesterday, and it’s been really exciting so far. My family and I heard about you from some merchants. According to them, you eat people who come into your cave. I don’t believe it, though. You would’ve eaten me by now if that were the case. And if it did turn out to be true, then it’s probably because you’re starving. I know I would be if I were in your place, so I thought you might appreciate a proper meal.”
By then she had finished unpacking everything needed for second breakfast, with the majority of the food being closer to the monster. Whispering a prayer of thanks to Eru, she picked up a freshly baked poppyseed scone and bit into it, deciding to change the subject from cannibalism.
“But I’m guessing you don’t want to hear all that rot people say about you. What else should we talk about? Hmm…oh, do you like music? I’m in a music group with my sisters; I sing and dance and play the hand drum, tambourine and finger cymbals. We’re hoping to learn new songs during our stay here. Lord Círdan even invited us to perform tomorrow night at the banquet he’s hosting. We usually perform at taverns, parties and festivals. The thought of performing for Elves at a fancy banquet is a bit intimidating. Perhaps I could…no, never mind.”
Since the monster was an Elf, it crossed Nell’s mind to ask him to critique her singing and dancing from an Elf’s perspective. She refrained when she recalled an old proverb that equated singing songs to one with a heavy heart to pouring salt on an open wound. As if to confirm the proverb, his spirits seemed to drop a little lower when she brought up music, prompting her to change the subject again.
Nell kept up her one-sided conversation, not eating very much so the monster could have most of the meal. Unfortunately, he remained almost as still as a statue throughout her visit, not even looking at any of the food she laid out.
Oh dear, I hope he’s not sick! Do Elves get sick? I should bring some healing herbs next time just to be sure.
With a sigh, she gathered up the remains of the meal, tying up the untouched food in her new handkerchiefs and setting them where he could easily reach if he regained his appetite later.
“You’re welcome to come to the banquet tomorrow, if you’d like.” Picking up the basket and lantern, she smiled at him. “I’ll have to ask Lord Círdan, of course, but I’m sure he won’t mind if I brought a guest. I may even convince him to have some new clothes tailored for you. I’ll try to come back tomorrow before the banquet with more food, but I’m not sure when exactly that will be. Most likely when the tide is low.”
Still no reaction. With a nod, she took a step toward the exit.
“Well, good day to you, sir.”
She turned and left the cave, not taking as long now that she knew the way.
Despite the monster’s silence and stillness, Nell thought that encounter went relatively well. He didn’t try to eat her or chase her out, at least, or even challenge her to a game of riddles like Gollum did with Uncle Bilbo.
Perhaps this could be the start of a new friendship, assuming she didn’t annoy him with all her chatter. Giving her scraps to a preening albatross, she walked back to Mithlond with a bounce in her step.