Josh will now be officially addressed under her elven name, Garthel. It is pronounced as 'Garth-el'. Enjoy reading!
3. The Fellowship
Garthel watched as the guests arrived throughout the month to attend the Council of Elrond. The elves from Mirkwood arrived first to inform the escape of Gollum from the Halls of Thranduil. There was an attack from the orcs of Dol Guldur. That was the first time she saw Legolas from the veranda that had a view of the bridge into the city. Erestor was the one who had welcomed the Mirkwood kin.
It came as a surprise when she did not fawn over Legolas like she expected. After all she used to have a crush on him when the movie first came out. She expected to at least feel some sort of giddiness but alas months of living with elves had probably attuned her to their beautiful nature. He is attractive and gorgeous, like all elves. That was perhaps the problem. Their enchantments had worn off on her. It was like being a celebrity herself and not looked upon other celebrities as idols anymore. Except in her case, she was still a mortal but feeling normal among elves.
The dwarves made their appearance soon after which she had glances of Gimli walking the Hall of Fire. It was when Boromir arrived with his men that she felt distress for she knew of his fate. She avoided watching him. The last of the fellowship members to arrive were Gandalf, Aragorn and the hobbits.
She did not approach the guests after their arrival. Lord Elrond had requested her to be of absence until the council. However, he emphasized that she should be present at the end of the council. Sometimes I think Adar just loves to see the surprise on the face of others.
Taking her adar's request into consideration, she had avoided all the guests. Besides taking a few glances from the shadows, she had been staying mostly in her room. Or sneak out with Elladan and Elrohir for training in secluded area…
Lord Elrond had called her into his study one evening and told her Lady Galadriel wished for her to follow the fellowship until she had to go her separate way to Lothlórien. She had looked bemused and her adar's eyes had shown that they both knew the fellowship would all end up in Lothlórien. He added on she would be of great help to carry some of the burdens for she knew of their fate.
"Should I attempt to change anyone's fate?" she asked.
Lord Elrond stared at her for a moment.
"You were brought here for a reason. By Valar's faith, he has given you the power to choose your actions. In the end, it is your choice. Follow your heart, iell nín," said Lord Elrond.
~ *** . *** . *** . *** . *** . *** . *** . *** ~
Garthel was nervous on the day the council would be held. She donned a black cloak and hid herself behind a pillar where Lord Elrond, Erestor, and Glorfindel's chairs were placed. Elladan was standing next to Erestor while Elrohir stood next to Glorfindel. I don't remember the twins being in the council…
She was distracted by some noises and was not surprise to see Merry and Pippin hiding two pillars away from her. They didn't see her. It was best that they did not for she wouldn't want to ruin the so-called surprise Lord Elrond had planned. She chuckled mentally at that thought. She listened to the conversation like it had played out in the movie. It mattered not if she doesn't see them for it still felt surreal to be part of this council. The council was not short, but to her, time seemed to be moving faster than she had anticipated.
When she heard Lord Elrond started to say "nine companions", she knew it was time she did her special guest appearance. It sounded like a reality show. She slipped out from the pillar behind and kneeled before her adar.
"My Lord, you requested my presence," she said, intentionally calling her adar "My Lord" for the sake of a dramatic effect.
She heard the twins gasped. Everyone barred Lord Elrond was surprised to see an unknown person in a cloak appearing for the council. Elladan and Elrohir were shock to hear her voice. They were not informed of her involvement prior to the council. The way she had appeared only further confirmed that she would be joining the fellowship in their journey. Both of them stood up immediately.
"Adar!" chorused both of them together.
"Tell us this is not true!" demanded Elladan as he faced Lord Elrond.
Lord Elrond turned to look at his sons grimly.
"Yes, I did request her presence. Lady Galadriel suggested her involvement months ago," said Lord Elrond.
Elrohir, who was usually calm, turned around to face her with an indignant expression.
"You did not think it important to inform us, muinthel!?" shouted Elrohir.
The audience who knew Lord Elrond knows that he only had a daughter. They did not know he claimed kin to another. Therefore, they thought he had allowed Arwen to be involved with the ring. Even Aragorn hesitated though the voice did not sound like Arwen, he came forth to protest but Lord Elrond held his hand up to gesture he would explain.
"Let me introduce you to Garthel, daughter of mine as I claimed kin to her just a month ago," said Lord Elrond.
She stood up and removed the hood from her head. Most of them gasped in shock.
"But she is mortal!" exclaimed Gimli.
"Not to mention a lady. This journey will not be kind to her," added Boromir disapprovingly.
Before she could retort, Lord Elrond had defended her instead.
"Kin is not separated by races, Gimli, son of Glóin. You will soon learn that in your journey. As for being a lady, Boromir, you'd be surprise of her competency," said Lord Elrond.
Elladan and Elrohir were still glaring at her. She tried not to look at them. She must have been a shocker for those that have not seen her. She did not resemble any races of men in Middle Earth. She raised her eyes to meet everyone in the council and bowed.
"Pleased to meet all of you. My journey shall begin with you but may not necessarily end together. My intended destination is Lothlórien. My presence has been summoned by Lady of Light," she said.
Gandalf finally spoke. "Well, this I did not expect."
~ *** . *** . *** . *** . *** . *** . *** . *** ~
When the council was dismissed, a separate meeting had been held only for the fellowship and Lord Elrond's family besides Arwen.
"Garthel knows about the fellowship prior to her arrival… from another realm," stated Lord Elrond.
It was no surprise for Gandalf but it was a different matter for the rest.
"What do you mean from another realm?" asked Aragorn as he stared at her in confusion.
She was getting tired of the weird stares and decided to speak up for herself.
"Ada, please allow me," she said. Lord Elrond nodded.
"It is what is being stated. I am not from Middle Earth. I come from another world, slightly similar but more advanced and so much different because there are no elves, dwarves and hobbits. No dragons and creatures of the dark either. Maybe there are some wizards or witches but none that I have come across," she explained.
She had to stare at Gandalf when she said that. He returned the stare in mirth.
"As to my knowledge of the ring and fellowship prior to my arrival, it was written in fictional books from where I come from. Now, I bear the burden of this knowledge and I must insist that you should not force me to disclose anything as I am afraid it will change the course of our journey,," she continued.
Everyone was contemplative and deep in thoughts.
"Lady Garthel, it is wise of you not to inform any of us of the incidents that are bound to happen," said Gandalf.
He was watching her and his eyes seemed to tell her something as if he knew what she knows.
She nodded solemnly.
"As much as I wish I could, please allow me to bear this burden. Not to mention, it is long coming now. I have to see Lady Galadriel for I need to find a way to go back to where I came from after all," she said.
After a few further discussions on the journey, the meeting was adjourned. Only Elladan, Elrohir and Lord Elrond were left in the room. The twins were arguing with their father on the risks of allowing her to go. She understood that they worry for her because they care and had come to love her like a true sister.
"Enough, Elladan, Elrohir!" she chastised.
She took each of their hand and look at them with sadness. They cringed at her expression.
"You must understand, regardless of the fellowship and their journey, you both knew that I will have to go to Lothlórien anyway," she said sadly.
They tried to protest but she stopped them.
"No, both of you are needed here. It is fate that brought me to both of you. I still remember clearly the day I was found and saved by my brothers. I love both of you very much. Please have faith for I have faith we will meet again," she told them.
The twins sighed and pulled her into their arms.
"We understand, but it does not make it any easier," said Elrohir.
Elladan could not bring himself to utter a single word. He might have always shown a more aggressive front but he was the most emotional between the brothers. They released her after a moment and left the room, leaving their father and her alone to say their farewell. Lord Elrond had been facing away from her since she started talking to the twins and had yet to turn around to look at her. She knew that he too was worried for her.
"Ada…" she called and walked towards him.
Lord Elrond turned around with tears in his eyes.
"I knew in my heart that you are my father, blood or not. It was silly of me to think by recognizing you as my father that I am replacing my true father. But these months have begun to let me come to terms that my father will always be my father and you don't have to replace him. You will be another father I have come to love as my guide and kin. In this life, Ada… you are no doubt my father for no one could have given me so much as you did since I came here," she said in tears.
Lord Elrond pulled her into his arms and embraced her tightly.
"Yes, iell nín. You will always be my daughter in this life as well," replied Lord Elrond soothing their pain away.
TBC