Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings however sad it may be. I only hope to represent Tolkien's work with an OC of my own. What you do not recognize from the books or movies or appendices or anything else of Tolkien's belongs to me.
"Not all those who wander are lost." ~J.R.R. Tolkien
8.
In her bed, Erynell leaned forward at the old wizard's words. They had been speaking of regaining her memories, a prospect that was growing more and more hopeless in the elf's mind every minute. Previously, the wizard told Erynell that she may remember everything when the tower of Barad-dûr fell from its heights. He was wrong, and Erynell was resentful.
"How is it you know who I am, when even I have no idea?" Erynell would not make eye contact with Gandalf.
"Well," he sputtered. Erynell noticed that he did that a lot when he was uncomfortable. "I know where you are from and roughly how old you are." Erynell fell back onto her pillow and looked out the window. Gandalf continued when she said nothing.
"Before the great rings were forged and even before the Last Alliance of Men and Elves, one very well-known Elven citadel was Eregion. It was named for the great holly trees growing there and was inhabited by elves from all over Arda. At one point, it was the greatest Elven stronghold of Arda." While explaining, Gandalf's eyes became clouded as if by memory.
"Then Eregion is my home? I am from this place?" Erynell did not know what to think on the prospect of home.
"You are either from there or you were there when certain events unfolded." Gandalf sputtered once again, though Erynell was too deep in thought to notice.
"So if I can return there, someone might recognize me and actually help me remember." Erynell's voice faded at the end of her sentence, realizing she was indirectly insulting the wizard.
"Yes, you would be able to….if it weren't for Annatar." Gandalf seemed to enjoy leaving Erynell with only slight bits of information.
"And Annatar is….?"
"Annatar was one of the many aliases used by the Dark Lord Sauron. Thousands of years ago, Sauron disguised himself in the form of a fair elf and went to Celebrimbor of Eregion, a master smith. Being a Maiar, a magical and immortal being of much power, Annatar was also a master smith. Annatar means 'Lord of Gifts' and the gift that he brought to Eregion was that of knowledge.
"The Dark Lord taught Celebrimbor as much as he could and then tricked him into forging with him the great rings. Annatar was not widely trusted, and Celebrimbor was talked into forging three rings of his own in secret. Vilya, Narya, and Ninya were never touched by the Dark Lord and therefore not corrupted.
"The War of the Elves and Sauron began when Annatar was finally revealed to be Sauron and demanded all of the rings. Celebrimbor refused and smartly kept the three he had made secret. Sauron left Eregion and many thought the conflict to be over. However, Sauron returned with a great army and laid waste to the land of Eregion.
"Celebrimbor was captured and tortured until he told Sauron where the lesser rings were. Sauron would eventually gift them to the men and the dwarves. However, despite the pain, Celebrimbor was able to keep the secret of the three Elven rings from Sauron, so they were safe with their new bearers. Celebrimbor perished from his torment.
"The land of Eregion is now pleasant but unoccupied. You may want to visit there some day, if only for closure." Gandalf smiled sadly at Erynell.
"Then my hopes of recovering who I am are lost." The elf was greatly saddened, as though the news of Eregion was affecting her even though she could only trust the wizard's words of its fate.
"Not quite, my dear." Erynell's eyes lifted to look at him once more. "There are some alive today who were present during that time and who might know something of your specific past." Erynell only looked at Gandalf expectantly.
"Lord Elrond of Imladris, Lady Galadriel of Lothlórien, and Lord Celeborn of Lothlórien."
"But for present, we know nothing?"
"We are closer now than we were before."
"It is still a dead end."
"Before you can have an audience with one of those I mentioned, then yes."
"Of course." Erynell turned to look out the window. The shadow of the citadel was long, meaning the sun would disappear for the moon soon.
"I have not given up, Lady Erynell. I will not give up on you." Gandalf puckered his lips in thought when she ignored him. "May I look into your mind once more, Lady Erynell? Just to see what has changed."
With a sharp nod of her head, Erynell closed her eyes and allowed Gandalf to reach out and lay a hand across her forehead. There were many more memories than the last time, though that was to be expected, and there was a wider array of feelings. Gandalf frowned at the feelings of doubt and hopelessness extending throughout the elf's mind like a great shadow.
At one point, Gandalf started to shuffle through some of her memories of the battles they had been in. When it got to the point of seeing the great eye fall from its perch on the black tower and he just started to hear the black speech screaming in his head, Gandalf was pushed out, skillfully blocked from that memory. His brow furrowed when it happened, though he moved on instead of trying to force himself back through the wall Erynell had placed there.
Then of course, there was the eye. It came up suddenly, burning fiercely, though it did not feel as evil as when he first found it hidden in the depths of Erynell's head. The eye seemed faded, only a shadow of what it used to be, and not as much of a controlling force as simply a presence. Gandalf knew he would have to vanquish it somehow, though the wizard suddenly felt like he was being pulled away from the sight of the eye.
The elf and the wizard opened their eyes at the same time. Gandalf's hand was hovering an inch away from the skin where it once rested, and he became very confused as to why he was forcibly pulled from her mind.
"I feel it best that I take my leave and let you rest." Gandalf turned around in a flurry of white robes and left when she said nothing.
Alone and in her bed, Erynell heaved a sigh. Being left to her own thoughts and devices, Erynell was starting to resent the wizard. Part of it might have been the stress or the continuous crushing of her hopes, but the elf was questioning everything he had said.
Shouldn't the talk of my own home make me remember everything?
Erynell started feeling worse and worse with her thoughts, and realized that lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, and "resting" was probably the last thing she needed to do. She threw the stiff cotton sheets away from her and stood, walking over to the clothes she had been itching to put on since she saw them while speaking to Gandalf. At present, she was wearing a white cotton dress which was probably uniform to the healing halls, though Erynell didn't care.
Erynell was pleased with the fact that the clothes given to her by Eowyn had been returned and washed. The elf felt much more like herself when wearing them and walking down the many hallways.
There were light voices coming from somewhere nearby, Erynell's ears pricked whenever she heard them. The elf followed them, wanting to be around somebody, no matter who it was, aside from Gandalf, of course.
Through a tall wooden door, Erynell entered a chamber with many openings to the night in the walls. There was a courtyard to her right, leading out of the healing halls and into the rest of the citadel. In front of her, though, Erynell recognized Eowyn turned away from her. The Lady of Rohan was laughing and speaking with a man Erynell had not seen before. He had sandy hair reaching his shoulders.
Erynell realized that the two probably had not heard her come in. The elf stepped forward and cleared her throat. Eowyn and her companion turned around, still smiling.
"Lady Eowyn." Erynell bowed her head to the both of them, not addressing the man by name since she did not know of it.
"Erynell," Eowyn returned the gesture and then looked up at the man. "This is Lord Faramir, son of Lord Denethor, the late Steward of Gondor."
"My lady," Faramir bowed to Erynell and she bowed to him in return. "I apologize; I have not had the acquaintance of many elves before."
"Do not worry, I haven't either." Erynell smiled and Eowyn laughed a bit.
"Faramir is a Captain of the Men of Gondor." Eowyn spoke again and looked up at him fondly. He stared down at her as well.
Could he be one of the Tree Men? Erynell remembered when she was first taken prisoner by the Haradrim and the Tree Men or Men of Gondor had ambushed them in front of her eyes.
"I believe to have made your acquaintance once, however indirectly." Erynell continued when Faramir looked a bit confused. "There was once a troop of Haradrim you and your men would have attacked in a ravine. I was there to see it before I was taken prisoner by the riders of the Mûmakil."
"I apologize we were not able to assist you. I remember the Haradrim, not a fair Elven lady in distress." Erynell laughed at his response.
"Of course."
The three of them talked for quite a while. Eowyn and Faramir were very pleasant and did not seem hindered by Erynell's presence. They spoke of everything from Rohan to Mordor, and were great company.
It was only when Eowyn started to yawn and speak less and then Faramir started to yawn and speak less when Erynell realized that they were of mankind and needed their rest. It had been many hours since Erynell watched the sun set, and she suddenly felt guilty for keeping them up with her.
Erynell left the two of them after apologizing for keeping them from sleep, and still felt guilty after they both assured her it was alright. The elf did not know what else to do, so she left the healing halls, knowing there was nothing else she could do in there.
The city of Gondor was very pretty. The first time Erynell had been in it, she was not able to look upon its structure or its white walls. It had a pleasant atmosphere, even after the great battle that had taken place before it. At some places, walls were missing or there were craters in the stone twice as deep as she was tall. Erynell had seen the catapults that the army of Mordor had with them, though she didn't expect them to do this much damage. However, the city had cleaned up quite well.
Only in a few places did Erynell see traces of blood upon the walkways. They were barely noticeable, though Erynell's heart dropped every time she spotted one.
Did the one whom this blood belongs to perish here, where I am standing?
Is there any hope that this one could have lived with such blood loss?
Is this all there is now of this man, woman, or child; a spray of blood, too unnoticeable to be cleaned away?
Erynell brought herself to the highest point in the city that she had access to. At the top of the citadel, before the doors of the halls of the king, Erynell stood in a courtyard of stone. Sectioned off areas of green grass surrounded a small tree.
Its bark was white and shone smooth in the moonlight. One flower was blooming in its upper branches. Without that small, delicate sign of life, Erynell would have thought it to be dead. She approached the small tree and felt something from it. Around the tree, it had a sort of aura of life. The force was thrumming with energy, and Erynell closed her eyes to reach out and touch the tree's bark.
Immediately, Erynell felt happy. No, even stronger than happy. The elf felt elated. Her spirits were lifted and her face contorted into a smile. In her mind, in that moment, everything felt right in the world. The pain had passed and from now on, everything would be painless and perfect.
"You are drawn to it." The voice of Prince Legolas pulled her from her stupor and Erynell dropped her hand.
"I don't know what you mean." Erynell turned to face him. Legolas' long hair was drawn back behind his ears and braided intricately. Resting atop his head, a silver circlet reflected the moonlight, as did his silvery tunic he wore. The Elven Prince looked elegant and surreal, as if bathed in moonlight.
"I am drawn to it, too. Not only is it the only tree in this city, it is also a very happy tree. I am positive you felt that." Legolas smiled and walked past her to the other side of the tree.
"I did," Erynell nodded slightly and looked at the flower high in the tree again. "But why is it so pleased?"
"This is the King's Tree, Lady Erynell. Now its King is returning."
"You mean Lord Aragorn?"
"Of course. His coronation will be in a few days. This little tree is preparing." Legolas said.
"Will there be a big celebration?" Erynell was excited for Aragorn.
"Definitely. Dignitaries from all over Arda will come for it." This got Erynell's attention.
"Will there be many elves?" She asked.
"A handful. Though there are not many elves left in Arda to attend." Legolas was now staring at Erynell. She could hardly contain her excitement.
"Will, say, Lord Elrond be in attendance?" She asked. Legolas was still looking at her, though now he was slightly confused.
"I believe so. Why do you ask?" Legolas also wanted to know how she knew of the Lord of Imladris in the first place.
"I heard Gandalf speaking of him. And besides, I look forward to meeting more of our kind. You are the only other elf I know." Erynell wasn't quite sure if she should tell everything, though she did not know why.
"I should have known that would be it, my lady." Legolas smiled and looked at the blooming flower as Erynell did. Then he extended his hand and placed it on the bark, closing his eyes. Erynell followed suit, putting her hand directly across from his.
"You said once that there are ways to communicate other than talking. Is this what you spoke of?" Erynell spoke with her eyes closed, though she could almost feel Legolas relaxing.
"It is."
"Are elves the only ones who can communicate like this?" Erynell opened her eyes slightly. She saw Legolas' blue eyes already open and staring at her.
"I believe so." The two sank into a comfortable silence. Erynell closed her eyes again when Legolas kept looking at her. "I am pleased you were not killed in battle."
"As am I….and I do believe I was more useful fighting than I would have been on that ship." Erynell laughed to herself and remembered when Legolas tried to keep her from the battle.
"I apologize that I did not think you capable." Legolas said, looking down.
"It is only because of your lessons that I was able to even hold Hathelas right." They both laughed at her words.
"At least you were trying when I found you."
"Thank goodness you did."
"Some would have taken the blade from you."
"I would have gotten it back."
Legolas and Erynell eventually stepped away from the tree, though they kept talking. They took a few turns around the courtyard, mostly speaking of what they thought the coronation would turn out like or Legolas' home of Mirkwood. They spoke well into the morning, with only a few awkward pauses in conversation before another subject would be brought up and the two would be in adamant conversation.
It was only when Erynell realized how hungry she was did she finally pull herself from the courtyard to return to the healing halls where breakfast would be waiting in the great hall. After all, she may be able to sleep very little, but she still had to eat just like a normal person; maybe even more.
Erynell walked around aimlessly after breakfast, chewing on a piece of salted pork she had saved. Truthfully, Erynell did not like staying in the meal hall for long. She would usually sit with herself and eat unless Eowyn was there too.
There were also many more people in need of healing in light of recent battles, and they were either very gruesome looking or they were so depressing that Erynell would eventually lose her appetite. So, often the elf would take some food with her and just eat while she walked.
Erynell was thinking about her talk with Legolas. She was not paying attention to where she was going and she had been chewing on the meat in her mouth for so long it had become tasteless. It was only when she saw a familiar figure round a corner did she swallow the meat and remember she had been walking.
"My lord," Erynell smiled and looked at Aragorn. He had been walking quickly with his downcast and his hand resting on his sword. It was strange how regal he had become. The soon to be King was no longer just a ranger clad in old, worn leather. At the sound of Erynell's voice, Aragorn looked up.
"My lady. I thank you once again for your service to me and the life I owe to you." Aragorn bowed to the elf. She didn't quite know what to do since it was Aragorn bowing to her.
He is so humble. She thought to herself. He really didn't need to bring that up in every conversation.
"You are too kind, my lord." Erynell smiled returned the bow.
There I am being humble as well. Erynell smiled to herself.
"There are some who want to meet you, Lady Erynell." Aragorn said. "This way."
"What? Who?" Erynell asked and raced to his side. Aragorn didn't answer, though he stopped shortly outside of a door just like any other.
"Prepare for anything, Lady Erynell." Aragorn bowed again and turned away, leaving Erynell very confused.
Erynell looked at the door and took a great breath. Her hand grasped the handle and she closed her eyes, preparing for anything just like Aragorn said. Her left hand reached up and knocked lightly.
"Enter." A quiet voice said. Erynell turned the handle and slowly opened the door.
"Erynell!"
"My lady!"
Two high-pitched voices yelled and she heard little feet racing towards her. Without warning, Erynell felt a great weight around her waist and opened her eyes, looking down. She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrine Took were hugging her tightly around the waist and smiling.
Looking up, Erynell noticed two other hobbits on a bed that was much too big for them. One had darker hair with tired blue eyes and the other was larger with curled sandy hair and soft brown eyes. The second one was jut sitting on the bed, while the first was burrowed under the sheets lying down.
"You must be Master Samwise Gamgee," she referred to the bigger hobbit first and then looked at the other, "and you are Master Frodo Baggins." Erynell knew that the reason Sauron had been defeated was because of these tiny creatures. She bowed low with respect.
"You are Erynell, the mysterious elf." Frodo stated, still looking at her with a straight face.
"Not all that mysterious if you ask me." Erynell rose, also with a straight face. The two stared at each other for a moment before they both smiled. Merry and Pippin laughed and jumped on the bed next to Samwise. Erynell approached and then sat in a high-backed wooden chair next to the bed.
"So you heard of me." Erynell leant forward and smiled at the small beings.
"I have seen you before too." Frodo stated. He seemed to be looking into her instead of at her.
"That was quite a long time ago." The elf said.
"What happened to you? I might've tried to speak with you somehow if I had noticed you were of the Elves. I am sorry. In my blindness I thought you to perhaps be a spy of the enemy." Frodo said and looked down at his blankets.
"It was not only you. A Haradrim scout found me and thought me to be a spy for their enemy. I was taken prisoner on the back of their commander's Mûmakil." Erynell looked down too; first remembering being a prisoner and then remembering watching her former captor die on the battlefield.
"You rode an Oliphaunt? What was it like? That seems awfully exciting, if you take my meaning." Sam butted in and looked at Erynell, and then realizing that maybe he sounded too excited about her misfortunes. "I mean, it's terrible you were there as a prisoner, but they're so big, if you follow me."
"I follow, Master Samwise. It was terribly uncomfortable and very high off the ground. That's all I really remember." Erynell smiled. They only spoke of Mûmakils or Oliphaunts, according to the hobbits, for a moment.
"My lady, I am out of practice, but….Ú-firo i laiss e-guil dhîn." May the leaves of your life never die. Frodo closed his eyes to speak in concentration. Erynell herself looked at the ground, suddenly recovering the customary response in her mind.
"Galo Anor erin râd dhîn, Frodo, elf-friend." May the sun shine upon your path.
The four hobbits and the elf sank into easier conversation, if only for a few minutes. Erynell soon felt that she should return to her own room. The elf excused herself when the opportunity allowed and left, very pleased that she was able to meet with the saviors of Arda.
It was a short walk back to her own room, and when Erynell entered and closed the door behind her, she discovered everything had been cleaned and rearranged. At first, she thought that she had entered the wrong room, but then she saw the middle-aged woman waiting for her. With her white dress and her calm expression, Erynell recognized her as one of the healers.
"My lady," she bowed her head, "Your room has been prepared and is ready for you."
"My room?" Erynell though this was her room. She looked at the woman confused.
"Your room in Minas Anor, the King's Tower." The woman saw Erynell was still confused. "The rooms on the House of Healing must always be open. You are recovered and, as a guest of Lord Aragorn, you have a room in Minas Anor. Follow me."
The woman led Erynell up the citadel's walkways and through the courtyard with the white tree. They entered the King's Hall or Minas Anor as the woman had called it and walked a bit further, up some stairs, and down a few hallways. Erynell could easily remember the way even though it was quite a large fortress.
The healer opened a large wooden door for Erynell and then closed it after her. Erynell barely heard the air current of the door closing as she was admiring the room. It was larger than the one in the healing hall, and there was elegant, wood-carved furniture all around. There were a few large windows that were not open towards Mordor this time, but different far-off mountains. The bed was quite large, and the sheets were a dark green.
Erynell approached the bed, immediately happy when she saw her blade, Hathelas, and a few of the throwing knives she had lost during her fighting. There were also other gifts on the bed.
Erynell noticed two dresses; one was dark green with silver stitching, and the other was brown with gold stitching. Erynell didn't take much time to look at the dresses, though she smiled when she noticed other articles of clothing looking just like the ones she was wearing now. They were different fabrics, but all the same style and Erynell enjoyed the thought of clean changes of clothes that she still felt comfortable with.
The clothes were gathered up easily enough and hung or folded neatly in a wardrobe in the corner of Erynell's room. She went back to the bed and took her weapons to a table where she laid them out nicely. Then, Erynell went back to adjust a sheet that was slightly crooked. As she disturbed the many folds of fabric, Erynell heard something else fall to the floor.
The elf bent down and reached under the bed, knowing that was where it had fallen. She closed her hands around a metal object and brought it out to see. Closed in her hand was a shining silver circlet. There were tiny leaves and weaving branches shaped from the precious metal. Erynell smiled and placed the circlet on her head. It fit perfectly, smoothing out her hair and resting on her forehead.
Erynell glanced down once more and noticed a small slip of parchment. She bent down, assuming it to be a note.
This is Elvish-made. Wear it for the Coronation.
Erynell read the note, wondering who would give her such a valuable gift. She took off the circlet and laid it on a small table next to her bed. She placed the note down beside it and turned away. Erynell had nothing further to do in her room and so she left, resolving to look around the King's Tower for a while.
Excitement was building in Erynell's gut. She couldn't stop thinking about the coronation. She was looking forward to it. Also, she resolved, she was looking forward to meeting more of her own kind. That celebration was going to be a day to remember.
