Chapter Eight - Finding my Confidence

Once again, Riley was standing in her room wishing for a mirror. She had chosen a light green gown and dressed. then decided on a different dress. then another, and another, and yet another. And so now she was standing in her yellow dress, looking at all the other dresses lying on her bed.

Someone knocked on the door, and Riley quickly opened it. "Legolas thought that you may be more frightened than you should. Would you like some help?"

Riley threw herself at Arwen and gave her a grateful hug. "Thank you!"

Arwen walked towards the bed and laughed. "You have been busy, mellonim." She moved a pink gown and a green gown until she found a midnight blue gown that was lined with sparkling silver. "Ah, this is my favorite. A dress of the stars, is it not?"

Riley smiled. "I was considering that one. It is beautiful."

"And you will make it look much more beautiful. And we will find something to do with your hair. Although I have never worked with such short hair, I'm sure we'll find something."

Riley laughed as Arwen helped her into the gown. Then, as an afterthought, she asked, "Arwen, Legolas knows me really well. Why?"

"He cares for you, mellonim, as we all do. You are one of my dearest friends. Did you know that? When you care for someone, you notice things about them that others may not. Especially if you were brought up to be observant."

"Like Elves?"

"And Rangers."

Riley grinned. "So what do you think about Aragorn?"

Arwen smiled and motioned for Riley to sit on a stool while she searched through drawers in the wardrobe for ribbons. "He is. wonderful. Interesting to talk with, intelligent. He has just learned of his heritage, did you know?"

Riley nodded. "He is also strong, and is wonderful with the sword. And he is handsome, don't you think?" she asked mischievously.

Arwen's laugh was as close to a giggle as Riley guessed an Elf's laugh could be. "Yes, he is." Arwen had decided on an assortment of silver and gold ribbons and began weaving them into the girl's hair.

"I'm really nervous, Arwen. I'm not really sure what I'm going to sing."

"I do not think I can suggest anything that you know."

"Well, I did write a song, but I'm not sure how good it is."

"I'm done with your hair. Why don't you sing it for me?"

Riley stood up, feeling the ends of the ribbons brush her shoulders. Her dress was long-sleeved, but the shoulders were cut out. It was a square- cut neckline and was fitted to her hips, then flowed down past her ankles. "Well, um. I finished this while I've been here." And so she sang the song for Arwen.

At evening meal, Riley sat across from Arwen and Aragorn, with Legolas by her side. Arwen invited her father and Gandalf to hear Riley sing, and they readily accepted. More than one time during the meal, Legolas squeezed her hand under the table reassuringly. "Do not worry, mellonim. This will only serve to make you more sure of yourself," he told her.

"Or make me hate my voice forever," she whispered back. Legolas only smiled at her in amusement and sympathy.

After the evening meal, the four friends walked slowly towards the Hall of Fire. Riley hummed to herself as she listened to the others speak rapidly in Sindarin. She could understand just a little, but quickly understood that they were speaking of the Elfin Child. Riley continued humming and fiddled with the silver lining of her dress. Suddenly, Legolas turned and ran back down the hall.

Alarmed, Riley asked, "Where's he going?"

"Do not worry, mellonim. He simply has forgotten something and has gone to retrieve it," Aragorn said as he pulled lightly on her arm.

Riley muttered an "oh" and continued walking, thinking to herself, "Since when does an Elf forget things?"

When they reached the Hall, they chose a table near the performance area. Riley listened with interest to the different singers and performers. But Aragorn and Arwen were not going to let her stall. Before anyone else could begin, Aragorn leapt to his feet and called out, "I would like to introduce a friend who some of you know is the Elfin Child." A murmur ran through the Hall. "She is a bit nervous, so please be kind in your welcomes. Riley," he motioned for her.

Riley rose slowly, smiling shyly. She hissed at Aragorn, "Legolas isn't here. I don't want to sing without him; he promised to be here!"

Aragorn whispered, "And he is. Sing, mellonim." Legolas had taken his seat at the table and gave her an encouraging smile. Aragorn gave her a squeeze on the arm, and suddenly Riley found herself standing by herself. The normal nervous heat came to her hands, and Riley's heart sped up. So, since she couldn't look at the people and sing, she looked up, imagining what was past the ceiling, and sang from her heart to the invisible Being who held her at night.

"There's a song that's inside of my soul. It's the one that I try to write over and over again. I'm awake in the infinite cold. But you sing to me over and over and over again.

So I lay my head back down. And I lift my hands and pray To be only yours I pray To be only yours I know now You're my only hope.

Sing to me the song of the starts. Of your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again. When it feels like my dreams are so far, Sing to me of the plans that you have for me over again.

So I lay my head back down. And I lift my hands and pray To be only yours I pray To be only yours I know now You're my only hope.

I give you my destiny, I'm giving you all of me. I want your symphony. Singing in all that I am.

At the top of my lungs, I'm giving it all back.

So I lay my head back down, And I lift my hands and pray To be only yours I pray To be only yours I pray To be only yours I know now You're my only hope."

As her voice faded away, Riley slowly opened her eyes and wiped a tear off her cheek. She hadn't been sure what to expect, but she was startled to find that everyone in the Hall was staring at her in pure amazement. Riley swallowed, beginning to think that this was one of those things that scar you for life, when someone began clapping. The applause was soon ringing throughout the hall.

Riley felt like crying. She grinned and bowed slightly and let her eyes wander. She looked at as many faces as she could, then finally decided that it was time to sit down. When she reached the table, Arwen stood and hugged her and kissed her cheek. Aragorn smiled and hugged her, whispering words of praise in her ear. And Legolas swept her up in a hug and twirled her around once. "I told you that you could do it!" Riley giggled. And those gathered in the Hall continued to clap.

***

The four friends spent the next day together again. They explored the gardens, and Riley insisted that they stop at the meadow so that she could climb the tree that she had fallen from. In the early afternoon, Riley timidly asked if Legolas would give her tips on archery, and Aragorn in sword fighting. "I've done archery a couple times, but I only played with fake swords," she explained. And so the rest of the afternoon was spent practicing fighting techniques.

Legolas, after watching Riley shoot a couple arrows that hit the outside of the target and bounced off, got the idea in his head that she was really a natural and just needed practice.

However, sword fighting was a little different. In fact, it was rather pathetic. Aragorn explained the basics to her, and she felt fairly capable of pulling it off. until Aragorn handed her the sword. She fell over.

So they abandoned actual swords for sticks. "At least I can lift it," she thought to herself as her stick flew out of her hand. When Riley wasn't dueling with Aragorn, Arwen was. And she could lift the sword.

That night, the Elves of Rivendell urged Riley to sing again, and so that night they heard "May It Be", and as an encore, "Dreams". After the Hall, the friends walked slowly back along the passages towards Riley's room.

"I think I should tell you about this feeling I've been getting," Riley said just before they reached "her corridor". "It feels like something important is going to happen very soon, but I don't know what it is."

"We will discuss it tomorrow with Elrond then, if it worries you," Legolas replied as they stopped to bid their goodnights. Riley nodded and kissed Legolas and Aragorn on the cheek, a habit that she had formed soon after her arrival.

Arwen followed her into her room. "I wish to speak with you of Estel, mellonim."

"K," Riley said happily, flopping down on her bed. Luckily Arwen had become accustomed to the occasional slang that slipped from her friend's mouth.

"My feelings for him have been growing every moment. I almost fear him."

"You're scared of him?" Riley exclaimed. "Oh wait. it's the whole facial hair thing, isn't it?"

Arwen laughed, but quickly became serious again. "Alas, I will admit only to you my true feelings. Riley, I love him."

"Gee whiz, you fall in love fast! 'Course, Aragorn loved you the - oops."

Arwen's eyes brightened despite herself. "What, mellonim? Please, I must know."

Riley sighed. "The first time he saw you. He came to me a couple days ago and said, 'Aniron Undomiel'. That's why I planned the picnic. He wanted to spend time with you so badly that I felt like I should help."

A small smile crept onto Arwen's face, but was suddenly replaced by despair. She sank down on the bed and covered her face with her hands. "A mortal. How can I love a mortal?" she cried.

Riley smoothed her friend's hair. "Can you imagine all of eternity without him?"

A tear slipped through Arwen's hands along with a whispered, "No, never."

"Well then, there's your answer. All answers lie within the heart, Arwen."

Arwen looked up and smiled. "Has anyone ever told you that you have understanding beyond your years?"

Riley smiled back. "Yes."

***

"I do not know what this feeling may mean, Riley, I'm sorry." Riley sighed. She had woken up that morning only to find that the feeling was more urgent than ever. Whatever it was warning her of, she didn't have much time. She had quickly dressed in the midnight blue gown that she had worn when she first sang in the Hall of Fire and ran to Elrond's office. He had called a council of her friends.

Riley fiddled with the "Fellowship of the Ring" book and glanced down at her box that held all her belongings. The feeling was pushing her to do something, and suddenly, looking at her things, she understood. "I think I know." Everyone looked at her curiously. Feeling like she was choking on her words, Riley said, "I think I'm going home." The feeling dissipated, silently confirming her words. She reached out and almost touched the box, but drew her hand back.

Gandalf knelt down in front of her. "If you return, and you do not know where you are, or you need help, tell them my name and I will come for you." Riley nodded gratefully. Gandalf's words assured everyone that she really was leaving.

Elrond laid an affectionate hand on her shoulders. "It was our pleasure to know you, Mellonim."

Aragorn gave her a hug and whispered a thank you; Arwen hugged her and kissed her cheek, and reminded her that she was one of her dearest friends.

Legolas took her into his arms and whispered, "Keep singing, Little One."

Tears streamed down her cheeks. She knelt down by her "LotR" box and held her hand above it. "You are my best friends. I wish I didn't have to leave, but I don't think that Fate is giving me a choice. I love you all." She dropped her hand towards the box, but stopped short as she remembered something. "Oh, and, Arwen, all the answers lie in the heart." The last thing she saw was Legolas's sorrowful sky-blue eyes gazing at her. And she thought at him, desperately wishing he would hear, "Thank you for helping me find my confidence." She touched the box.

Then she blinked, and found herself staring at her reflection in the mirror closet doors of her room in Rolling Crest, Washington, in the United States of America, on Earth.

And she still had on the midnight blue gown that she had worn the night that she found her confidence.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ A/N: This is not the end of the story. Oh, no. It goes on for a very long time. But this is the end of what I will call "Book 1". I hope to have "Book 2" started within the next couple days. Good-bye, and may you find your confidence.