Chapter 3
Enjoy!
The meeting chamber seemed empty, yet it was full. Nobody spoke, nobody moved. Everyone awaited the arrival of the Lords and Lady of Rivendell. The group consisted of Chloe, Abi, Glorfindel, Erestor, Aranel, four other hobbits, a few men, five dwarves, Gandalf, Legolas (he was the Prince of Mirkwood, the fiancée of Maerwen) and seven other elves. When Glorfindel's ears perked back, he stood and looked towards the door. Sure enough, the twins walked soon appeared, followed by Elrond and Maerwen, Elrond watching Leah's every move. He was strongly against her attending the meeting as she had not had enough rest, but Maerwen had persuaded her father into letting her go. He frowned when she stumbled, and winced when she knocked her elbow on the stone. She was still slightly disorientated, making her vulnerable.
Everybody rose when the family walked in. With help from Elrond, Leah took her seat, with the twins and her father following her actions. When everyone had sat down, the elven lord began speaking. Maerwen didn't listen, but she noticed that the elves and dwarves were sat far apart, and the wizard sat amongst the hobbits. She saw Chloe and Abi smiling at her, and she couldn't help smiling back. Leah noticed a dwarf yell something unrecognisable, but her father stopped and drew in a sharp breathe. Once he collected himself, he continued talking. Once her father finished speaking, the dwarves began talking to the hobbits, muttering about the one ring, and the journey. Elrond looked down at his daughter, and a crystal tear slipped out of his eye.
"Adar, why are you crying?" Leah asked her father. The twins looked at their father, then to their sister. They noticed Elrond's famous look that he gives Maerwen when she is in danger. It holds pure fear and worry. They knew it all too well.
"Maerwen, did you hear what the dwarves said during my speech?" Elrond saw Maerwen shake her head and continued. "They spoke of the ring bearer. They believe that it is the fault of the elves that evil has returned. They wish for an elf to destroy the ring." Elrond dried his tears and looked at Leah with pity.
"Adar, you must tell Leah who they believe should be the ring bearer. She will find out soon enough." Elrohir spoke with a heavy heart.
"Iell-nin, they want you." He spoke slowly and carefully to his daughter. Maerwen grew dangerously pale and began leaning on her father. Elrond hugged her tightly, but it wasn't enough. She burst into tears, and ran out of the room.
"Maerwen?!" Elrohir made to run after her, but Elladan held him back. By then, everyone had stopped talking and looked towards the standing elves.
"I will protect her, my lord Elrond. I will venture with her." Legolas stood and spoke clearly.
"I will go too." Aragorn (Lord Elrond's foster son) stood and agreed. Chloe, Abi, Gandalf, Aranel, another man by the name of Boromir and a dwarf named Gimli all stood and agreed too. A woman stood, told everyone that her name was Tarryn, and announced that she too would go.
"Myself, Sam, Merry and Pippin will assist Lady Ma...Mae...mo...Leah." The hobbit named Frodo stood up and spoke for the four hobbits sitting next to Chloe and Sophie.
"Adar, we shall go too." The twins stood and acknowledged their father. Elrond frowned, but said nothing on the matter.
"It is settled then. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!" Elrond spoke proudly as he eyed the stood men, women, hobbits, wizards, dwarves and elves. As everyone started filing out, Elrond added to Legolas "Oh, Legolas, please go and find Maerwen to calm her down. I feel that she will only listen to you. Tell her about the fellowship, and that you part from here in a week." Legolas bowed, and ran off. Elrond sighed and made for his study. A big glass of wine would sort out his worries, he had no doubt.
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After the ceremony of leaving, Elrond had bid the company a farewell, tears slipping out when he eyed his children. The fellowship walked on until they reached the crossing between the South, the Gap of Rohan, Moria and Cahadras. The six hobbits took up some training with the majority of the fellowship, whilst Aranel, Elladan, Elrohir, Legolas and Maerwen scouted the area. When Crebain from Dunland flew overhead, they all hid behind trees and rocks.
"We must take the pass of Cahadras" Gandalf had announced.
When they got to the mid point of the mountain, the hobbits had caught severe chills, and the men were struggling on the snow.
"Come, the mines await us. We will die here if we don't turn." Gimli made everyone go towards the Mines of Moria. Little did they know that such an awful thing would come...
"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"
"GANDALF!"
"FLY YOU FOOLS!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
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Leah woke with a scream, tears streaming down her face. Elrohir ran to her side, trying to comfort her.
"Hush, Maerwen. Shhhhh. Everything is fine. You are safe. Shhhhh." Elrohir held his sister close, tears flowing ever faster on her face.
"G...Gan...Gandalf... Why did... He... Have to... He didn't... Deserve..." Maerwen whispered through broken gasps. Elrohir just hugged her tighter. "It should... Have been... Me." Those last few words broke Elrohir's heart. He just held her until they both fell asleep.
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Elrohir woke to bright sunshine streaming into the pavilion of Lothlorien. Around him were the fellowship, excluding the hobbits who were recovering from their chills, and Gandalf.
"Gandalf" Elrohir whispered. He stood carefully, not wanting to jostle Maerwen, and went to the training grounds. He was about to fire his first arrow, when his ears twitched back.
"Elrohir? Is that you?" At this familiar voice, the younger twin spun around and dropped his bow. He scanned the forest until his eyes rested upon a familiar face.
"Merilwen!" Elrohir scooped her into his arms. Merilwen was an old friend of the Elrondions and Elrondiells. She had grown up with the family, rarely spending a weekend without them. When their mother died, Arwen moved to Lothlorien, and Merilwen had decided to stay there with her to keep her company. She rarely saw the twins, or Leah.
"You are here with the fellowship, no? You must take me to Elladan and Maerwen. I haven't seen them in ages!" The young she-elf announced. Elrohir took her hand in his and together they walked towards the pavilion, picking up the dropped bow.
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"Chloe. Chloe." Leah shook the hobbit awake. She received a low grumble, telling her to go away. But Leah continued anyway. "Come with me to see daernaneth and daeradar. I don't want to go alone." A small voice came from the hobbit, questioning the previous statement.
"Who's daernaneth?"
"Sorry, I forgot. Lady Galadriel is my grandmother, and Lord Celeborn is my grandfather. I need to see them about the journey." Together, Chloe and Maerwen made their way towards the private study. Leah knocked three times and entered. Inside, she saw The Lord and Lady sitting with cups of tea. She bowed and embraced them. Chloe stood awkwardly in the corner of the room, not wishing to disturb anything. "Daernaneth, daeradar, meet Chloe. She is my hobbit friend." Maerwen was positively beaming. At this, the lady of light chuckled. She rose and embraced the hobbit. This surprised the hobbit, and the two elves. Once the lady let go, she welcomed the hobbit into her study and invited her for a cup of tea.
"Oh, before I forget, Maerwen. We have a surprise for you." Lord Celeborn signalled towards the door. "Elrohir?" He called to the twin, waiting for him to enter. When he finally did, he walked in gracefully with a mischievous smile reserved especially for Leah. When Leah asked what was going on, another presence entered the room.
"It has been far too long, mellon-nin." At this voice, Maerwen whipped around.
"ROSIE!"
