Summary: Elrond, Gandalf, and Saruman have kept a secret from her. A big secret. When she finds out, she insists on accompanying Gandalf and the Ringbearer. What else could go wrong? What if she falls in love on the way?

Prologue:

She is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, Saruman mused. Then, he looked at the mother. Well, save her mother, that is. Now, though, her mother is dead. What am I going to do? I don't know how to raise a child!

Then it hit him with the force of a sword blow.

Have her taken to the Elves. That is where she belongs anyway, he told himself, looking at her bright eyes, Elfish ears, and the glow around her. He made a gesture and one of the numerous servants, nameless, faceless Men, stepped forward.

"Take her to the Elves of Imladris," he ordered. "Ask Elrond to take her in, raise her."

"Yes, m'lord," the servant replied, gently taking the child into his arms. Then, the servant bowed and exited the room.

Saruman looked at the dead Elven princess, whom he had loved dearly.

"My love, I will bring you back, even if I must side with the Lord of Darkness himself. I swear it."

"I beg your pardon?" Elrond Half-Elven managed to choke out.

"Master Saruman wishes for you to raise this child. Of course, I am sure he would understand if this proves to be too much of a task for you. However, it wouldn't do for word to get out that the Elves had turned away one of their own."

This is quickly going from bad to worse. She's an Elf? he thought, growing decidedly unhappy with this turn of events.

He took the child into his arms and looked at her. She smiled charmingly at him, chubby hands reaching for his hair.

She has the looks of the Eldar. Shining, beautiful, and strong, he 'gasped' mentally when she managed to get her hands into his hair and tug. That actually hurt.

"Tell Curunír this: The Elves will take this child in and raise her, but he is not to interfere in any way with her upbringing."

The servant nodded and turned to leave.

"Does this child have nothing?" Elrond queried, noticing for the first time that she had no cases or baggage with her.

"Master Saruman will send some things as soon as he can."

Elrond sighed and nodded, dismissing the underling. The Man left.

"Child, what am I to do with you?" he asked the girl, though he knew she couldn't reply. "You haven't been named. I guess that will be my first task. Oh, joy."

"You summoned me, Lord Elrond?" Glorfindel asked, entering the room.

I forgot that I wanted to speak with him. I summoned him before Curunír's servant appeared, he reminded himself.

"Yes, Glorfindel, I did. Curunír has sent the Elves a child."

He gave Glorfindel credit for only blinking his surprise and shock. "Why?"

"I don't know. Specifically, he gave the child to my care."

"Well, I suppose there is nothing to do but raise it in the Elfish fashion."

"I can't think of a name for her."

"Her?!" Glorfindel gasped.

"Yes, her. Any ideas?"

Glorfindel looked at the girl-child and said. "'Lórindol Tindómerel' sounds pretty enough for her to me."

'Golden dusk-singer,' Elrond mused. She certainly looks like a golden dusk-singer. Even now, I think I wish I had sent her back to Curunír.

"That if far too long a name for a child. Perhaps when she is older, she can use her full name. For now, though, she will merely be Merel."