Authors Note: I in know way own Tolkien's characters or Middle Earth. However, any characters I have made up I ask that you do not steel without my permission. (So far this means Itarildë)
Chapter 1
The Beginning of the End
"Let it be so then. You shall go," says Elrond, and he sighs. "Now the tale of Nine is filled. In seven days the company must depart."
And I guess so it will be. I will be not of the company then, but will follow close, stock their steps and keep them safe from perils they need not fight against. My existence in Middle-Earth will stay unnoticed still. I was on the journey with Bilbo when he found the Ring; I kept them safe from goblins and orcs of whose numbers they could never have guessed at. Many journeys have I been through, and many more I will hopefully be apart of. Or not apart of, but very important to its outcome.
I am Itarildë, daughter of none. I am Elf-kind, not of the High Elves, nor of the Elf-lords. Merely I am Elf. No more. Few know of me; I am but a ghost of voices in the winds to most. Those who do know me let me do as I wish. No one can keep me from where I want to be. I had been at the Council of Elrond—uninvited, but not unwelcome.
They call Arwen the Evenstar of her people. I am the breath of Middle-Earth. Not only did I journey secretly with Bilbo—well, almost secret, Gandalf knew of my presence—but I have been on every major journey, fought in every major battle of Middle-Earth.
Go ahead, think I'm exaggerating, for it is not so. I am young, yet so very old. I look not a day more than twenty-five, but my eyes and the way I hold myself shows my age. My tongue, my fluency in all the languages of old, my memory—they all show my age.
And now I go off on another journey, for sure it is the last hope of Middle-Earth. I must go. It is my duty, my life's goal—destroy Sauron.
Now you must be thinking how that is my life's goal when I existed before Sauron was evil. But I knew, the stars show many things, and Sauron was one of them. I knew of his coming, of the harm he would bring and could do nothing to stop his coming. But now he shall be stopped. Frodo will not fail. For while I have never desired to have or even touch the Ring, I fear it more than anything else. It could steel away my freedom, and that I will not accept. The Ring will be destroyed, and finally one has come to accomplish that task—Frodo Baggins. I will be a wraith before he does not complete his task.
***
"Come now, Itarildë. I must speak to you," Elrond bids after everyone has left the council. I softly venture out of my hiding place and nod a greeting to him.
"Elrond. You wish to speak?"
"You are going?"
"Hîr vuin?" (My Lord?)
"You've known of Sauron's coming since before he came. You have made it your life to protect others from him. You are going?"
"Ta thand." (That is true)
"An ngell nîn, nadirio prestad." (For my joy, beware trouble.)
Hoping to avoid promising to, I answer, "Gîl síla erin lû govaded vîn." (A star shines over the time of our meeting.)
"Navaer. Garo 'lass" (Farewell. Have joy.)
I nod a farewell to him. "Guren niniatha nan lû i achenitham ammin, hîr vuin." (My heart will weep to the time that we will see each other again, my Lord.) Then I go to rest until the journey is to begin.