Disclaimer: Didn't I already say that the end of disclaimers has come and gone? Aii… whatever… ^_^
A/N: More confusion to come… it'll be over soon, I promise. ^^
Chapter 10: Teu'kelythaNell and Buffy's hug eventually ended, and when Buffy stood to her feet, Nell sat looking forlorn.
"I have to leave, for now, Nell," said Buffy. Nell was slightly alarmed and quickly stood as well.
"What? You're going back? Then… then I can go back to, right?" she asked, a glint of happiness in her eyes. Buffy sighed sadly.
"I… well… I can go back… I have to… but… you have to stay," she said slowly.
"Why?"
"I shall tell you, young one, but first, Buffy must return to your world. The spell keeping her here is fading," said Galadriel suddenly, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
Nell looked flabbergasted, but before she could protest, Buffy began walking away. Nell gasped as she realized Buffy was slowly beginning to disappear and glow a soft white color. Buffy smiled one last time before she was gone.
"Wait! I…" Nell drifted off and looked questioningly at Galadriel.
"Do not fear, you shall see her again."
"But… why couldn't I go with her?"
Galadriel did not reply immediately but her eyes seemed to shine dimmer than before.
"You now know who you truly are, and it is time for you to learn why you were returned to Middle Earth… and why you have been prevented from leaving," stated Galadriel in a slightly stern voice.
"Prevented?"
"Your very Spirit came to Middle Earth before you existed, at the beginning of the Third Age, and was here during the time your sister was not alive. In your world that was 123 days, yet in Middle Earth, that was two thousand eight hundred and forty four years…" began Galadriel.
"I was here that long?"
Galadriel continued.
"We felt your spirit's presence here, Nell. The Wise. We knew something other worldly had appeared… The forces that existed in Middle Earth were able to stop your spirit's journey through other worlds, or dimensions. I desired to learn more of this, spirit, and I summoned it here, to Lothlorien. I studied your spirit, learning its mystical properties… it served as a link between Middle Earth and your Earth, therefore it was that I learned of the existence of other worlds, and passed this knowledge to the other Wise…" Galadriel gazed intently at Nell. "It was then that I chose to bless this being, this being that seemingly came from the Heavens… I touched the spirit with the Light of the Elves… the Power of the Elves, granting it life… and I named it Elfwing."
"Elfwing…?" asked Nell slowly.
"Yes… Elfwing, this divine spirit, dwelt in the lands of Middle Earth… during that time period of 2844 years… others learned of it… the Wise, yes, but one… who's eye sees all, learned of Elfwing." Galadriel spoke with a tone of importance. Nell paled a little, knowing whom this 'one' was.
"The Dark Lord Sauron, during the time of the Watchful Peace, returned to his fortress in Dol Guldur in Mirkwood from hiding in the East. He had increased strength, and he was able to feel Elfwing's presence. He was also able to learn from his many spies that he had throughout the Realms and from his power, of who Elfwing was. He learnt of the Key… and the power that the Key unlocks. It was then that he wished he could use the blood of the Key to his ways, to open the great portal, and bring forth an invincible demon army that would serve him… But, unfortunately for him, he could not. For one thing, Elfwing had no physical form, therefore had not the blood of the Key. Second off, Sauron had not the power nor strength enough to capture Elfwing… He forgot about the Key, for then…" Galadriel looked again at Nell, who had grown silent in deep thought.
"In the year 2931 of the Third Age, the year of the birth of Aragorn son of Arathorn, there came a calling from your world, Nell. Buffy was resurrected, and that act called to your spirit that was Elfwing. Elfwing passed from Middle Earth back to your world, and you came into being. A human lady, blessed with the beauty and grace of the Elven kind, who was also the Slayer of demons and the Key… you are quite a unique person Nell. I believe that if a part of Elfwing had not been left behind in Middle Earth, you would have been very much an Elf, though human at the same time. You are still an Elf in some ways…" Galadriel drifted off a little, a smile once again on her fair face.
"Wait a minute… a part of me was left behind? Here?" stammered Nell. Galadriel nodded, a warm smile still there. "But… why?"
"Hmmm… perhaps, while Elfwing traveled aimlessly through the lands of Middle Earth… it may have found something…" Galadriel's twinkling eyes flickered as they did before over to the trees that stood above the stairs, but they were quickly back on Nell. "Or someone… that it did not wish to forget… or leave behind."
"I… I don't really… get it," said Nell. Galadriel chuckled lightly and began pacing slowly around the basin, her eyes still on Nell.
"You will understand eventually… right now there is something else of great importance." Galadriel's sudden stern expression surprised Nell. "As you know, Sauron once desired to use the power of the Key, but he had not the chance. Now, the Key has come in human form to Middle Earth, no longer a spirit. He knows, for he recognized your presence again… and I believe that you know when he discovered you were back…"
"Do you mean, that dream I had? I saw… an eye, wreathed in flame… it was like it was boring straight through me," replied Nell with a shudder.
"Yes, that was the eye of Sauron… he seems to have power that affects the dreams of people, though I have yet to know how. It is Sauron that has cast a shadow of power that prevents specifically you from leaving Middle Earth. He would like to claim you, for if he did victory would be most simple for him. Nevertheless, Nell, the Elfwing that has been here, for the 88 years that has passed since you returned to your world, called you back here, for it was a part of you. The War of the Ring was at hand, and it was time for you to be reunited with all of Elfwing. That is why you were taken by that portal here to Middle Earth… but, strangely enough, you have not reunited with the spirit of Elfwing that was left behind."
"Huh?" asked Nell.
"Elfwing called you, but did not join with you. It still lingers as a sole spirit, everywhere yet not in sight. It is still divine, the power of the Elves great within it, and it is separate from you. Perhaps the shadow barrier that Sauron has cast has prevented it from joining with you as well. I am uncertain. But I do know that if Sauron and his Ring of Power are destroyed, the shadow shall lift, you would be joined with Elfwing, thus causing Elfwing to pass, and you would be able to go home," explained Galadriel.
"I could?" gasped Nell, her face brightening. Then it dimmed once more, for she knew the chances of that happening any time soon was not high.
"When the Fellowship departs from Lothlorien, you are to go with them again, Nell. Sauron already has plans to assault Lothlorien, this I am sure of. We cannot risk him capturing you. He does not fully know the truth behind the Company of the Ring. He does not even know that the Ring is carried by a little hobbit. He would not expect the two things he wishes to claim most to be traveling that way; you would be safest with them," said Galadriel. She then walked over in front of Nell, and kneeled down to look her in the face.
"I have a gift for you, before you leave this grove, Nell," she said in almost a whisper. "If ever you need guidance… something to let you know where you must go because you are lost and troubled… you can summon the spirit of Elfwing to you. She would appear in physical form, but in a way would not truly be real… the form would be of a white horse, Teu'kelytha, Moon Horse. Once you have summoned her, you will know what you must do, what path you are meant to take, though you may not wish to take it… do you understand?" asked Galadriel.
Nell looked unsure, but then nodded. "How would I summon her?"
Galadriel closed her eyes and spoke clearly, "Fea'en Edhel'Rámë, yalamin lle... saesa nyaraya maranwamin keauva... That is Quenya, the language of the High Elves. That tongue is no longer spoken here in Middle Earth, but it is spoken by the great ones; the Valar in far distant Valinor. Speak those words, and Elfwing shall come to you."
As Galadriel stood and stepped once more over to where the basin was, Nell was pondering this new 'gift' she was given.
"You will understand the words when you use them, Nell. In this hour, I give to you the name that was foretold for you by the Wise, Ellethran, Elfwing returned with life anew to Middle Earth," stated Galadriel with a shining face. "Now, I know you're heart and mind are greatly troubled by all that has happened today. I ask thee, rest. Take comfort in the protection and beauty of the city of Caras Galadon. Then, perhaps you would wish to learn more of Middle Earth? The Company of the Ring will be here for quite some time. We have a great library in the palace. You are most welcome to visit there."
"Umm, okay… Uh, Lady Galadriel? What about Bu-" stammered Nell.
"Buffy? Have no fear, you will see her once more before you leave. Go rest now."
With that, Nell took leave of the enchanted grove and went back to the paths of the forest floor. For some time, she walked around, aimlessly. It was then that she came to a slightly wider sparkling stream that lay amidst a few shorter glowing trees. The trees shaded the area, making it slightly secluded. She sat by the banks, and tried concentrating and going over everything in her head. It all seemed so overwhelming… and unbelievable. She had questions, or she thought she did.
"Why me!?" she asked out loud, as if she expected an answer. She nearly jumped out of her skin when a voice did answer.
"Fate can be cruel sometimes." From behind the trees came Legolas, and looking to Nell more handsome than ever. She snapped out of her brief trance and looked away.
"What are 'you' doing here?" she demanded, for she really was wondering why he was there. How could he have known where she was?
"That is a strange thing to say to someone who risked his life to save yours just the other day," he said with a chuckle as he sat next to her.
Legolas had followed Nell all the way to the glade of Lady Galadriel's Mirror. He had narrowly avoided being seen by those three handmaidens. He had then slipped up into the trees that stood atop the stairs. In that position he had remained, hearing and seeing the entire conversation Nell had had in the grove with Buffy and Galadriel. He felt a little bad for doing so, but he also felt better now that he knew the truth. Albeit barely. He had found it quite difficult to understand what Nell and Buffy had spoken about, for he was unfamiliar with what had happened in Nell's world. He found it most bizarre that the Lady Buffy had 'died' before and was resurrected. That was highly impossible, at least he thought it was. But, realizing that that was what had happened, he decided to accept it. What he found most interesting that Nell was of the Elves. 'So that explains her astounding beauty…' was what he had thought when he had heard of this.
Legolas was also concerned about the fact that Nell would be traveling with them once more, and that the Dark Lord wanted to claim her. It was hard to believe, but he knew that the word of Galadriel was true. He worried a little that she could be harmed if she continued with them, but he remembered that Nell was not just a helpless maiden. She was a warrior too.
'You would never expect that of her if you gazed upon her,' he thought, as he looked at sitting by the water. She was so small and fragile looking, but behind that appearance she had great strength. She looked much like the woman who was Buffy, her elder sister.
"I don't get it… fate HAS to be cruel… what did I ever do to deserve this? I would take the chance of being a normal girl any day… any day at all… but of course fate decided to be evil," said Nell suddenly. She was unaware that Legolas also knew the truth behind her, yet she still spoke as if she did know.
"Do you know how much it sucks to in no possible way be anything close to normal? Slayer, Key, Elvish… something! It's not fair! I never asked to appear out of nowhere! I never asked to be sucked into some crazy dimension with some freaky guy with FREAKY eyes to want to use me as part of his diabolical plan to take over everything! I never ever asked for any of this! Why did it have to happen to me? Why??" she cried. Her eyes began to shimmer, and before she knew it tears began to fall.
Legolas felt is heart wrench to see her weep. He unconsciously reached out a placed his hand on her shoulder too comfort her.
"It's alright… Nell… you can get through this… everything that happens was meant to happen. You 'will' get through this," he said gently.
She turned her tear-streaked face towards his slowly, and her breath caught in her throat as she realized how close their faces were to each other. Far too close for her comfort. She flinched and jumped to her feet.
"W-What would you know!? You… you don't even know what I've gone through! Maybe it won't turn out alright… you can't know for sure… I… leave me alone!" she cried. Before he could stop her, she had turned and fled away down the paths, leaving him standing by the stream.
HAH! Finally DONE!! Ack… I was REALLY having trouble writing this chapter for some reason… maybe it's cuz that dreaded writer's block is kicking in. Lol…
Please review!