Strange Love Found in a Strange Land
by Kiley S. Snape
"Pardon me, but are you the one named Terumi?" an aged, crackling voice asked. The water I was bending fell back into the pool, and I turned to face an old man garbed in strange clothing. I put my gloves back on, and wrung my hands nervously. My head bowed, I should have known better than to try bending combat water bending forms during the day; it was against my tribe's tradition, and now this stranger would surely alert Master Paku. "Do not worry, my child, I have not come to reprimand you. I seek your help."
"Who are you?" I asked warily.
"I am Gandalf the Grey, and I come from a land called Middle-Earth. I need you to return with me to aid me in a quest," the man, now known as Gandalf, explained.
Suspicion rose within me, "Why not choose one of the tribe's warriors?" I asked curtly. I began to leave, but
Gandalf gently took me by the arm. I raised my hand to strike, but somehow Gandalf stopped me.
"Terumi, please heed my words- I chose you for a great and mighty purpose, you are whom Fate chose. Will you join me?"
I was conflicted; a part of me succumbed to the call of adventure, while the other part remained apprehensive. I looked at the ripping pool I had bent, and then up to the sky. It was then I made my decision. "I will go with you, but how will my absence be explained?" I inquired.
"If you choose to return, no one will have notice your disappearance. Now take my arm, we must not tarry," Gandalf replied. As soon as my fingers latched onto his arm, we fell past light and time. Through our journey, darkness overcame us; suddenly, we collided with the ground, Gandalf remained standing, but I fell to my knees. "Are you all right, Terumi?" Gandalf asked as he helped me to my feet.
I nodded absent mindedly; I was too busy gazing about the strange place we had arrived in. The air sang with unknown music, and I could feel the life of the place in my bones. My eyes beheld a building, whose beauty surpassed Ba Sing Se with ease, twinkling with light upon a hill. "Where are we?" I asked breathlessly.
"In Rivendell, and we are about to enter the House of Lord Elrond. You are to stay here until I return, do not worry, you will be safe here." Gandalf led me up to the house, and we were received by a man, who seemed untouched by time.
"Greetings, Gandalf, and whom is this bring forth?" he crisp, aristocratic voice cut through the air, and he looked at me with a quirked brow.
Before Gandalf could introduce me, I did it myself. "My name is Terumi of the Northern Water Tribe, Lord Elrond," I said, and bowed. When I straightened up, I saw Gandalf's eyes twinkling with admiration, and I smiled in return.
"This is the woman of Lady Galadriel's vision, Lord Elrond. I entrust her in your care whilst I am away," Gandalf explained.
"Surely you are not leaving now, Gandalf?" I asked, nibbling my lower lip.
"I must seek the head of my Order; he is both wise and powerful. I must not delay myself any further, farewell!"
With great haste, Gandalf departed, leaving me behind in my grief at the loss of his presence.
"This way, Lady Terumi," Lord Elrond instructed, guiding me with an arm about my shoulders. He led me to open, spacious room that lay a ways off his home. "Rest well," he murmured.
I bowed to him and replied, "May the spirits watch over you." Lord Elrond glided away, I pulled off my thick coat, and set it on the chair that lie on the far side of the room. I sat on the edge of the bed and undid my hair from the intricate, multiple braids that formed into one. As soon as my head fell upon the pillow, I slipped into silent slumber.
The following morning, I was awoken by a man, who introduced himself as Glorfindel. The beauty and power that he emitted astounded me. Glorfindel laughed softly, "Have you never seen an Elf before?"
I gave him a puzzled looked and asked uncertainly, "An...Elf?"
That caused Glorfindel to laugh even harder and my heart fluttered at the melodious sound. "We are one of the immortal races, we have lived here on Middle-Earth through the Ages," he explained.
"Then you and I are different races?" I asked, slowly catching on. "So how old are you, Glorfindel?"
"I fear that if I were to reveal it to you, Lady Terumi, you will faint."
I huffed and sighed, "Very well, Glorfindel. Is there a place where I can find something to eat?"
He motioned for me to follow, and I did after donning on a strange dress that was laid out for me. The intricacy and beauty of Rivendell never ceased to amaze me as Glorfindel led me through the city. I was watched by the other Elves, and I tried to remain confident and kept smiling. Finally, I had reached the Dining Hall, and despite the cuisine not being my beloved water tribe food- it was quite delicious. "What is your homeland like, my lady?"
"Glorfindel, for the last time, my name is Terumi. My home is nothing like Rivendell, it snows year-round. However, I could not imagine living anywhere else," I explained, a faint, nostalgic smile curving my lips. I brushed the hair out of my face and up into a wolf's tail. "Could you show me around Rivendell more, Glorfindel, if you aren't busy?" I beseeched.
"As my lady commands," he answered with teasing formality. He took my by the hand, flashed me a blinding smile, and I could not deter my blush. Glorfindel escorted me all throughout the boundaries of Rivendell. We came upon a bridge that connected gardens on both sides of the Loudwater River. he roar of the water below us sang in my blood, and without warning, I sprinted towards the edge of the bridge and leapt off. I soared through the air, and I heard Glorfindel frantically call after me. Before I hit the water, I bent a large column of water that caught me, then lifted me safely back to the bridge.
"Did I scare you?" I asked with a satisfied smile.
Glorfindel beheld me with wonder, and I could not conceal my glee. "You know the ways of magic?" he asked.
"No, not magic. It's called bending in my home. We bend the water as though it is an extension of ourselves," I explained with a chuckle. "Would you like me to show more?"
"Please."
I summoned a sphere of water from below, and morphed into various shapes in between the two of us. He watched me, completely transfixed by the moving water; with a subtle flick of my wrist, I sent the water dancing back into the river. I chuckled faintly and brushed away the thin layer of sweat that had collected on my brow; I strode past Glorfindel and took a seat on a nearby bench.
"Can one bend more than a single element?" Glorfindel inquired as he took a seat beside me.
"There is only one who can do that, and it is not me, and it is a very long story," I replied. my hair had fallen out of its wolftail sometime during my leap into the river, but with mastered ease, I braided it into a complicated plait. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lord Elrond approaching. I rose to my feet and bowed, while I said to him, "Hello, Lord Elrond."
"Lady Terumi," he dipped his head as he replied. His attention turned to Glorfindel and he said, "Glorfindel, your services are needed by Aragorn in the Trollshaws Wood. Lady Terumi, I must speak with you privately." He guided me away while Glorfindel raced away. "Lady Terumi, I have come to tell you the reason as to why you were brought here to Middle-Earth," he paused to clear his throat, then continued, "Long ago, Lady Galadriel foretold of a woman, one whom would help to decide the fate of the world, who would be born in a land where the elements coexist within its people. The woman of the prophecy was identified as one of the children of the Moon and defied tradition to protect...that woman is you."