My eyes snap open and I sit up straight away.
"Azthryth!" Arwen sits in the corner of my room, reading a book as the light breeze makes her hair flow out of her face.
"Arwen." I say, but I must get straight to the point.
"Lle tyava quel? Lle anta yulna en alu? (Do you feel well? Do you need a drink of water?)" She asks in Sindarin immediately, her caring nature showing through.
"No, where is Aragorn, and Frodo?" I ask in Westron, my tongue too tired for the formalities.
"Frodo is resting, Ada has healed him. I'm guessing Aragorn is off somewhere thinking." Arwen says soothingly.
"I must go." I say, sliding out of the bed.
"Azthryth, at least change into something more respectable." Arwen persuades me, and I sigh. Arwen is always thinking about respect.
"I had a dress prepared for you earlier. La! (Please!)" She pleads.
"I don't hate them, I just find them impractical." I say as maids scurry in with a dark teal coloured gown.
I change into it and find it has long sleeves with slits down the inside up to the inner elbow, letting the velvet material billow away. Floor length with a waterfall train of about half a metre, with an off-shoulder neckline. Arwen takes out my braid letting my long hair fall, wavy instead of straight from the braid. I take my mother's silver head wrap with the deep blue/green gemstone that match our eyes and Arwen places it carefully over my hair.
"I really should go now. It is lovely, thank you." I say, before rushing out, still barefoot. I hurry through the corridors, checking all the rooms Frodo could be staying in, before finding Mithrandir sitting peacefully in a chair, watching a pale Frodo sleep.
"Mithrandir." I breath, bowing my head slightly.
"My my, how long has it been since you wore a dress of sorts?" He says, eyes twinkling, an eyebrow raised.
"9 years." I say, with an almost challenging tone. "It is good to see you are well Gandalf. When I found out you were nowhere near the prancing pony as the hobbits arrived, I started to worry."
"You were there because…?" Gandalf asks, his face serious now.
"Aragorn called of course." I say immediately, and he nods his head.
"Well, let us say Sauruman hasn't taken the side we expected." He says, obviously troubled. I frown. "You never met him did you, but his treachery runs deep. Foul and evil he is."
"Then I am glad not to have met him." I say, obviously pleasing the old wizard. I walk over to Frodo. "He will be okay, won't he."
"Of course. But the mark will always be there." Gandalf murmurs.
"I should go and find Aragorn." I say, bowing and turning to leave. I know where he will be, it's where he always goes for thinking. But I run into some people before I can get there.
"Nenuial!" I look over and Merry and Pipin are hurrying over.
"We heard you were sick! Are you okay?" Merry asks. I smile.
"Quite, it was just a little exhaustion. I see you are both well." I say.
"Very, in fact, this place is amazing! There's so much I didn't know about elves!" Pipin exclaims, and I smile again.
"Well, not many outsiders are welcome here, or come here in these dark times. Most just stay where they are situated." I explain.
"Is Nenuial your real name?" Merry asks curiously. I shake my head.
"It is elvish. It means lake of twilight." I say. "I would love to talk more, but I must go and see my half-brother." I say, bowing to them and leaving. They both bow, but burst out laughing at the gesture.
I wander through the halls, remembering my way through quite easily, until I find Aragorn, staring into nowhere on a bench, near the broken sword.
"Aragorn, you must stop disappearing here for hours, merely to think for so long." I say and he looks up.
"Well sister, you must stop disappearing for years, sending no word to let others know of your health." He counters.
"You know I was searching for answers. And I found them." I say, my eyes softening. "Have you not noticed Arwen got to me?" His look darkens and he looks down.
"Of course, you are as always beautiful, but I have tried to stop thinking about her." He says grimly.
"Her heart is pledged to you Estel, you should not fight her." I try to convince him with his childhood nickname.
"And ask her to leave her people, and stay here with the likes of men?" He replies angrily. "It is her birth right, Neni." The use of my shortened nickname makes me back down, knowing I could not be the one to convince him.
"Then if she is to follow her birth right, you should follow yours." I finish, turning to walk away, thoroughly concerned. I stop at the sight of Glorfindel, who bears a message.
"Lord Elrond asked me to bear this message to you both. The hobbit has risen, and is in perfect health. He also wishes you both to attend the council meeting, in which representatives from all the main providences in middle earth will be attending." Glorfindel reports, and I bow to him.
"Thank you Glorfindel, we will both be there." I reply, smiling at him. "Excuse me." I say and find my way out.
The days pass and soon I hear the clattering of hooves, and go out to greet the men from Gondor.
"Well met, Boromir, Captain of the white tower, I hope your journey was peaceful." I say, curtseying politely.
"Thank you, and you are?" He asks rather rudely, dismounting.
"Nenuial of Rivendell." I reply instantly, lying of my true birth right easily. "We still await the arrival of the elves of Mirkwood, and the dwarves. Please follow me to your quarters." I say politely, leading him through the corridors.
"So, if you don't mind me asking, how old are you exactly?" He asks as he begins to follow.
"Do you have a certain wish to know?" I ask, realising this could be normal amongst Gondarions.
"Not really, just curiosity I guess." He says, glancing into all the rooms as we walk.
"Then I am just older than ninety." I reply honestly, turning left into a different corner.
"So older than me!" He says, laughing.
"Perhaps, but younger than most." I say, trying not to become irritated by the man. "Here is your room. Just call if you need anything, anyone will be glad to help." I say, turning away almost gladly.
"Azthryth, I see you greeted our first guests." Arwen comes up to me in the library, and I nod.
"I must warn you, the formalities of men are so far below our own, I am starting to remember when Thorin's company past through here." I tell her.
"Azthryth, you mustn't let your temper get the better of you." She says, smiling.
"I'm sure you would at least think the same, if you would not say it out loud." I reply good-naturedly.
"Well if you're sure, we all are." She counters, and I look at her.
"The elves from Mirkwood will be arriving in a few days, I hope you will welcome them too." She tells me, obviously trying to catch me off. Luckily, I don't blush easily.
"Of course, I'm sure their manners will be perfect."
"Of course they will." She replies, teasing me. I scowl slightly.
"I'm going to train." I say, leaving the library for my room.
I have changed into my hunting gear, and left Rivendell on foot. I love it there, the peacefulness, all the elves… but I prefer being on my own with the wildlife, listening to the animals and insects scurrying around. I have been out for two days now, and suddenly I pick out an odd tapping sound. I perch up on my tree, suddenly extremely alert and aware of my surroundings. I jump silently to a nearby tree, and my eyes widen as I see a bird with a long thin beak, drilling into the side of a tree. A woodpecker. I haven't seen one of these for a very long time.
I'm quite far out actually, it would take me at least half a day to get back to Rivendell, and that's if I was to go at my fastest pace. In fact, I may not even be in the Trollshaws anymore. Suddenly, the woodpecker stops, and flies off. And then I hear it. The distinct sound of an arrow hitting it's mark. I launch myself of the tree onto another, gracefully hurrying towards the sounds. I can hear it better now, and it's a battle.
"Lul Gijak-Ishi!" I hear the words above the clashing of swords. It's orcish, for Flowers in the blood. Elves are being attacked.
My bow is out in a second, and I catch sight of three elves surrounded by 9 orcs. I see a flash of familiar blonde hair but don't hesitate as I pull an arrow back and let it fly into an orc's skull. I see the elves turn in my direction, but I've already jumped, and I have two arrows pulled back and I send them both flying into another orc's stomach. I jump again and see a flash of blonde hair take out 3 orcs easily, and I draw three arrows back at different angles, and release. All three hit their mark, as three more orcs fall. The blonde elf takes down the last, and catches my gaze. I would recognise his startling blue eyes anywhere, but I launch of my tree and begin flying fast, propelling myself off the trees back to Rivendell.
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