Chapter Seven

The Sea Speaks and a Decision is Made

"Quick!" yelled Dagored to the remaining elves, "get behind me and swim for the cliffs. I'll hold them off as long as I can…"

"No!" shouted Anariel as she sat bolt upright.

The sheets twisted and writhed around her as she struggled to be released. Sweat dripped from her brow and soaked her hair. Her breathing was rapid and her heart beat against her chest with the sound of a battle drum. Finally freeing herself from the bed she sprinted across the room and yanked open the door. The hallway flew past as she bolted outside and continued to run across the lawn until she found herself at the base of one of the waterfalls. With a shuddering breath Anariel lowered herself onto the damp stones and calmed down to the sound of the rushing water.

The memories were still too near for Anariel and she had barely gotten any sleep these past several weeks. She should have been tired beyond reason and there was no doubt that she was as Frodo and his companions had finally reached the Elven land.

Glorfindel, one of the eldest of the Imladris guard had tracked the hobbits and their guide, Aragorn, who had picked up with them in Bree. The first of the disturbing news was that Gandalf had not been there to greet them in the village and they had no choice but to go on without him. Even more disturbing were the many sightings of Nazgul roaming about the land in search of the hobbit who carried the one ring. They ran unchecked until the troupe passed the waters of the Bruinen and the skilled magic of the elves and Master Elrond had left them tumbling through the pure waters that burned whatever was left of their spirit.

Anariel offered to tend to the hobbits as she felt she were intruding upon the hospitalities of Rivendell with nothing to provide in exchange. The elves had reassured her that this was not the case but the only way to ease her mind was to find a way to work.

Gandalf had arrived soon after Frodo lay in the care of Lord Elrond and was immediately directed to the hobbit's room. There the two males stayed for quite a length of time tending to and freeing Frodo of the curse he had found himself under.

After Frodo had awakened to a chorus of smiles and cheers Gandalf had calmed down a bit. He walked around the room and found Anariel perched among the trees of the gardens one afternoon.

"Gandalf!" she exclaimed in excitement, "How are you doing this fine day?"

Anariel leaped from the branches and ran towards the old wizard, engulfing him in a warm embrace.

Chuckling the old man replied, "I am quite well, thank you."

He sat himself upon a bench and patted the spot next to him in invitation for Anariel to join him. She did and with that they began to recount the many happenings since they had last met. Gandalf frowned deeply when Anariel began to explain the doings of how her ship had faltered and the deaths of her people. Sorrow and loss exuded from the wizard for many of the elves upon the ship had also been his friends.

"…and now I find myself here, in Imladris," concluded Anariel, "Imladris, Gandalf, how in the blazes did I end up here?"

And to that no one had any answer. For lack of a place to go Anariel had remained. She had taken to spending her evenings walking with Elladan around the surrounding forests and improving her aim with Elrohir in the afternoon. Her mornings were spent tending to her guests and helping whenever she felt necessary in the kitchens. With all of her spare time she had even taken to teaching some of the older youth her skill in combat.

Through it all the days passed as everyone anticipated the arrival of the council members. The great council was to convene tomorrow and still several members were missing. Either way, they could not put this off any longer. Dwarves had camped outside the gates along with men. They dared not sleep within the confines of the House though rooms and hospitality was offered if a little coldly. Anariel had still not answered Elladan as to her position on attending the council.

"I just don't understand," he said with exasperation. "It is going to be the deciding factor in this coming war. What to do with the ring! The ring of power, Anariel! It must be destroyed but you know that won't be a unanimous decision. We need you there."

"You do not need me, Elladan," she answered. "You only want me there to even out the odds…"

"Nay," he replied, taken aback, "I want you there because you are experienced and you have your own story to tell. They must know about Tol Fuin. If more places of past darkness have survived all this time without word you could bring caution to hundreds if not thousands of people and save many lives of those who are too ignorant to see what is before their faces. Please…"

"I will think on it," she had replied.

Now she found herself in that same predicament that she had been trying to forget since she had heard about it. It was hard to recount her sad tale to people that she was close to. It would be even worse to recount it to strangers, however interested and listening.

The waterfall pounded into the shallow pools below as Anariel dug herself back into the present. 'Should I go to the council tomorrow?' she asked herself.

"Yes," replied a soothing soprano.

Whirling about Anariel stopped dead and crouched low in a position of attack.

"Please," said the being who now stood in front of her, "do not be alarmed. I seek you out in peace and to guide you."

Anariel, wary of the unknown, stepped forward cautiously until she could see the being illuminated in the light of a crescent moon. She appeared as a young woman though her eyes spoke of a being who had seen the creation of time. She was wearing only a slim grey-blue cloak the color of a sea during a storm. The edges of her cloak danced around her luminescent legs in a breeze that could not be heard or felt. Finally focusing on the lady's face Anariel found a sorrowful smile that spoke words without anything being said. The elf found herself drawn to this being but was still to apprehensive to draw near.

"Who are you?" she asked.

The lady replied in kind, "I am Uinen, wife of Ossë, willing maiar to Ulmo of the Sea."

"My lady!" exclaimed Anariel, and she lowered herself before this mighty being.

"Please," said Uinen, "do not flatter me so. I am one who likes to speak on familiar terms. Perhaps we shall take a walk?"

"Of course, my lady," breathed Anariel, still in shock.

Uinen took her arm and wound it through her own. It felt sturdy and solid yet as if it could melt at any time. The cloak was smooth and rippled with ease and a silkiness that the elf had never dreamed of before. A calm, serene peace flowed through her conscience and shooed away her worries for the time being.

"I was sent here by the King of Seas," began Uinen, "to explain why you are in Rivendell."

Anariel's interest, already peaked, had skyrocketed beyond belief. Every word, movement, and expression this woman uttered was taken in by her enraptured mind.

"We heard your prayers. We heard them from across the sea and though my Lord does not usually bother himself with the happenings of the beings of Middle-Earth he was driven by something I have not seen in him for a very long time. He was driven by fear. Fear that you had been lost."

Here the maiar paused and a look of great concern drew across her features.

"We are of the sea. The waters that travel through the rivers and springs are all connected to the oceans and so we keep a silent watch upon this world. We have been watching you and your family for quite some time. You were always attuned to the water. It speaks to you and you reply in kind. Ulmo had begun to care for you and your brothers a great deal for no other reason than he was in need of someone to love. Your father's fate crushed him. Your mother's condition enraged him. Finally, when your ship had been beached on the island of Tol Fuin and we had heard your pleas they brought fear into his heart that he might lose everything. You are all the old man has. Ossë and I have no children of our own and spend our time mostly together. Ulmo is a part of the sea. He has always remained alone until recent years."

"By hearing your cry we flew to where you were. I found you upon the sands near the bottom of the bay. Life still flickered in your eyes and I hauled you up through the waves and into the sunlight. I have no skill in medicine or knowledge of how to heal your race but I performed the basic necessities to keep you alive. It took many days but I towed you into the bay of Enedwaith where the river Bruinen runs for the oceans. I urged the skiff into Imladris and made sure you were within sight of the other elves. I am very glad that you have survived."

Anariel couldn't believe this. A great spirit of the world, of the very essence of the song Eru himself had sung had saved her life and given her another chance. But another chance for what?

"I thank you, my lady, but I must ask a question of you. Why? Why have you brought me to Imladris of all places?"

"I know of the hurt you feel when you walk these hallways, child," replied Uinen. "Remember, we have followed you for quite some time now. Now we will get down to the real business as to why I am here. You must attend Elrond's council."

Confusion spread across the elf's face. Of all the reasons she had not expected that one.

"But… why?" she asked without hesitation.

"That is for us play but a part in the background. You must decide in what feels right."

"But, but what is the need for me to be there?!" exclaimed Anariel. "There are plenty of elves who could just as easily attend and contest to the evil will of the ring!"

"You do not go solely for a say in what happens to the ring. Hopefully you will use your talents well."

Now Anariel was purely confused. Talents? What in the world is she talking about?!

The maiar's laughter filled the air with a tinkling of tiny bells.

"And that is also why I am here," she replied. "Your affinity for the sea and the water make you a healer at heart though you have never used the talent before. Try it some time, young Anariel, and you will see what a difference you can make in this world."

Anariel stopped and stood dumbfounded. Sighing in acceptance the maiar placed a small kiss upon her forehead and a small star shone in the light of the moon upon her brow.

"This will help to show you the way," she whispered.

Anariel opened her eyes and caught the maiar already sinking in the swirling waters of the Bruinen.

"Farewell, daughter of aearon," the maiar cried. "We all believe in you!"

And without another word she sank into the depths of the water and a shimmering light was seen floating downstream.

By now the sun had begun to rise and dawn was imminent. Anariel knew what she had to do and in the last rays of the falling moon the star upon her brow shone bright and then faded until there was nothing left to see. Not a mark left on her skin.

Determined Anariel ran back up to her room and changed into something much more presentable. The council could not be kept waiting.

Dearthos, mouth shut now, gazed into the learned eyes of one of Mighty Eru's first creations. He nodded in acknowledgement.

"I hear you, lord, and I will carry out your will to the best of my ability."

"Good," smiled the Aratar, "I wish you luck, my son, and indeed you shall have it."

The old man spoke words then, words that were not of this world, dragged up from the deepest pits of the oceans and farthest waves of the seas. Dearthos felt a cool hand touch his mind and gave in without hesitation. He opened his eyes slowly and noticed the Aratar drifting away already, his feet gliding through the water. Ulmo smiled back at him and then disappeared into the night.

As Dearthos made his way back to the spot on the rock that he had occupied earlier he glanced into the east. The fires and smoke of Mordor crawled like demons into the night sky but he was no longer afraid. He now knew how to defeat them and whom it would be to save them all. It would be a long time until he came but when he did Dearthos was prepared to die for him and would serve that purpose all too well.

"Galthoren," he whispered as he shook the man awake. "Time to take your watch."

The man grunted but got up without complaint.

"You alright?" he asked Dearthos. "You look as if you've seen a ghost."

"Just tired," the elf replied, but he would hardly sleep at all that night.