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Chapter 4

The House of Elrond
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Nell followed the Rangers' lead as they dismounted, her legs, back, and other bits sore from hours in the saddle. She had always been rather afraid of heights. After having conquered so many new things that lay far outside of her comfort zone in so short a time, she had given the way before them little thought—until they began the descent to the bridge. The path was narrow, but bordered with tufts of grass, and often the ground sloped away on either side rather than presenting a sheer drop. Still, she struggled to stay calm as she kept an eye on her footing and a hand on her horse's reins, knowing that her fear could disturb the trusty animal.

At last, they reached the bridge. This was worse: even more narrow than the rocky path, and with nothing below but air and rushing water filled with stones upon which to dash oneself. She dearly wished to ride across and close her eyes the entire way. But, with her position between Yvonne and Boren, the latter bringing up the rear, she had no choice but to go on, steady and trusting of her own footing. Surprisingly, the smooth stone of the bridge beneath her feet seemed to calm her, and as they began to cross the river, she was once again overcome with awe at the sight before them. The Elven architecture of Rivendell was entrancing, elegant, grand—yet somehow comfortable and welcoming. A warmth bloomed deep inside of her.

But her attention was not fixated on the scenery for long.

A clear male voice suddenly called out from somewhere ahead, "Hail, Ranger of the North. I recognize you, Lorthon, and Boren. But who are your companions?"

An Elf.

If she wouldn't have been at risk of falling, she would have leaned out to catch a glimpse of him, but she stayed firmly in place behind Yvonne while the suspense gnawed at her.

From the head of their procession, Lorthon called back to the Elf, "They are travelers in need of assistance, and Boren and I have taken it upon ourselves to provide them with whatever we are able. We were hoping to receive guidance from Lord Elrond, if it would not be an inconvenience."

Mere moments later, the Elf replied, "Enter, friends, and we shall see what may be done."

One by one, the party filed off of the bridge, passing between two statues of what appeared to be Elven warriors, and came to a halt on a modest circular plateau. Although Nell was now practically standing at the edge of a cliff, what stood before her dispelled her fear considerably.

The Elven man was just how she had imagined Elves to be: tall, graceful (ethereal came to mind, yet there was something . . . grounded about him), though dark-haired instead of the blonde that she always thought of. Something happened to her insides as his gaze raked over their group, taking special care to absorb the sight of Yvonne and herself.

He then spoke to Yvonne. "What is your name, lady, and from where do you hail?" His words flowed in an accent that reminded Nell of one that she had heard before, but was unfamiliar enough that it added to the fantastical nature of the man's presence. His voice was so pleasing that she wished that he would continue to speak.

"My name is Yvonne Linden," Yvonne replied, standing there a bit awkwardly. "And as to where I hail from . . . well, that is why we're here. We are very far from home, and hope that L-Lord Elrond will know how we can return. I mean no offense, but I believe it would be best to keep the full story for his ears alone, at least until he can tell us what he knows."

The elf inclined his head slightly. "No offense is taken, for these are dark times and one can never be too cautious. I am Erdion of Imladris, and I welcome you to the Last Homely House East of the Sea."

Nell listened to Yvonne's exchange with the Elf—Erdion . . . what an enchanting name—as if in a trance. She hadn't thought that she could be any more overcome with the reality of this new world than she already had been, but if this was her reaction to being in the presence of just one Elf, how might she fare once inside Rivendell? And there was far more awaiting them in this land, if their time here was to continue for much longer. She secretly hoped that it would, though the fear crept back in at the thought of all the possible dangers.

Then, Erdion's gaze turned to her. For a moment, she thought that her ability to breathe had abandoned her. When he spoke, she wondered how she would manage to respond. "And might I ask your name?"

But the words came with only minimal effort, much to Nell's relief. Though, less gracefully than she would have preferred. "Nell—my name is Nell Carter." She was grateful that Yvonne had taken the burden of further explanation upon herself.

He offered her a smile—one that she did not know what to do with, for it was so lovely and charming and kind, like none that she had seen before. She hoped that her expression was not betraying her flustered embarrassment. "Imladris welcomes you," he said, before addressing the Rangers. "Follow me. You may leave your horses; they will be attended to."

Suddenly, two more Elven men appeared, from a stone path leading off the right-hand side of the plateau into some trees. Without a word, they reached for the horses, and Nell obligingly handed over her reins, careful to avoid brushing the blonde Elf's hand. As if a spell upon her had been broken, she became aware of more of the details of her surroundings. She had been so fixated on Erdion that she had barely taken in the grand stone stairway directly in front of them, leading upward, and had failed to notice the two Elven guards stationed on the landing halfway up. She decided to blame it partially on the arrival of dusk, but even then, Rivendell was not as dark as it could have been, for warm flames danced in small braziers stationed at the foot of each banister, and similar lights could be seen through many arches of a covered balcony in the ground floor of the structure to which the staircase led. Her eyes traveled upward and caught many signs of that flickering warmth throughout the beautiful abode.

Then, her attention was pulled from the majesty towering over her to the task at hand as a hand on her arm startled her, and she looked swiftly to find Yvonne at her side. Erdion had begun to ascend the stairs, and the Rangers were nodding for the girls to follow first. Trying to quell her embarrassment, she hurried forward, a step behind Yvonne.

They walked in a quiet procession through Rivendell, winding along well-kept paths and up open stairways, the sounds of growing night mingling with that of the falling water all around them, and through it all, faint music drifted from somewhere within the dwelling. It was absolutely enchanting. Nell took in every wondrous detail, feeling rather overwhelmed. Amid the breathtaking sights, she realized that no other Elves appeared to be present as they followed Erdion through the halls and passages. She wondered what they could be doing. Did Elves turn in early? But the music . . . Surely someone was awake.

At last, they came a door. It belonged to a small but lovely building, and even in the shadows of nightfall, Nell could make out a balcony extending from one side, overlooking the river below. Without preamble, Erdion faced the small party, gave a shallow bow, and opened the door.

"Lord Elrond awaits within."

Nell's stomach dropped. She had been so consumed with the sights and the fact that this place was real that the reality of what they were about to do had not yet sunk in. Just through that door, Elrond was waiting. For them.

Yvonne stepped forward, keeping close to Nell. A pair of boots shifted behind them, and Erdion shook his head, repositioning himself, just slightly, as if to block the entrance.

"My apologies, Boren, but Elrond has requested their presence alone. He will wish to speak with you shortly, I am certain, but for now, you must wait."

Yvonne looked back at the Rangers, but Nell's focus was glued to the open doorway, her mind trying to process what Erdion had just said as she also tried to prepare for their audience with the Elven lord. Elrond had been expecting them. She could practically feel Yvonne's nerves on top of her own as they walked forward, then stepped through the door in tandem.

The door closed in their wake. Nell's eyes made the barest of minimal sweeps of the room—taking in the glow of the small torch-lamps, the open-air windows, and the night sky beyond—before settling on the dark-haired Elf in the ornate chair behind the desk across the way. He looked like a true lord upon his throne. She couldn't help but compare him to the only other Elf that she had truly beheld thus far, and although he did not appear to her as surreally beautiful as Erdion, his presence carried a weight that the other Elf's hadn't. A circlet on his head caught the firelight, and if Erdion hadn't called him Lord, Nell would have thought him a king.

Suddenly, he leaned forward, his grey eyes weighing both Nell and Yvonne. Then, he spoke.

"So, you are the travelers Galadriel has warned me of. Tell me, from whence have you come? What power has brought you here? And what do you know of the growing darkness that creeps, even now, across the lands outside the valley of Imladris?"

While she had been taken with the beauty of Erdion, she was rather intimidated by the Elf before her now. He was beautiful, yes, but he was undoubtedly the figure of authority in Rivendell; his entire persona proclaimed it. She strove to concentrate on his words rather than the way that he held himself, the way that he scrutinized the two of them. But as he mentioned the "growing darkness," she was struck with a strange kind of fear, different from that inflicted by her dislike of heights. The black-cloaked rider came to mind, and a shudder of dread passed through her. She wished that Yvonne would say something; she seemed most fit to handle this situation. Why wasn't she saying anything?

Nell glanced at her companion, who seemed to be somewhat petrified—though with disbelief that she was now face-to-face with Elrond, or with confusion regarding his questions, Nell wasn't sure. She then looked back to the Elven lord—and found his eyes boring into her own. As if he could sense her inner turmoil. She wanted to look away, but couldn't. The ages of wisdom in the depth of his gaze held her. She suddenly wanted to tell him everything: about their world, about the rider—especially the black rider. Telling him would keep her safe . . . he could keep her safe . . .

"Something troubles you," he said, his eyes narrowing slightly.

As if a door had been opened in her mind, the words came out almost before she could formulate them. "Yes—my lord . . . I . . ." She paused, not wanting to sound insane, but unsure of how else to describe her experience. Her voice was not much more stable when she continued. "I've seen a cloaked rider, on a black horse . . ."

Elrond stiffened and leaned forward in his chair, his piercing gaze suddenly more intense. "A black rider? You have seen one? Where?"

Yvonne looked at her abruptly, and with one brief glance, Nell could see the shock and horror on her face. She was suddenly very self-conscious. Turning anxiously back to Lord Elrond, she replied, "He was just . . . there . . . Before I came here—to Middle Earth—he was chasing me . . ." She was beginning to suspect that she was sounding insane. "And I've seen him here, too . . . but, it was more like I sensed him . . . I guess . . ." Very eloquent, Nell. What a convincing explanation.

Looking quite concerned, the lord half rose out of his seat.

"You can sense them? Where did you come from? The south? Where were you when you saw the Black Rider? Was there only one? Did you bring them here?"

Yvonne stepped forward then. "We come from another world entirely, Lord Elrond." She paused, and Nell glanced at her, taken aback at the slight edge in her voice. When she continued, she seemed a bit less irritated. "A world where all of Arda is nothing but stories and legends. We are not from the south; we are not from Mordor, if that is what you are asking. I do not know where Nell saw this rider, but she didn't mean to come here any more than I did. I don't know how one of them found her, or why, but it wasn't due to any malice on her part, or mine."

His eyes, focused on Yvonne, were sharp, wary as he settled back into his seat. "Another world? Galadriel said . . ." He shook his head, gave a dry laugh. "'Visitors from farther than you or I have ever ventured.' I thought she meant somewhere far to the east or the south, or perhaps even an unknown land across the sea." He scrutinized both of them for a long moment, then nodded. "As unbelievable as your story is, I believe you; I know little of worlds beyond Arda. Elves do not leave this realm, not even with death. Perhaps one maiar would know more. I will send a missive to Mithrandir; I have much I need to speak to him about, even beyond this. He is overdue for a visit."

As Nell tried to wrap her mind around his words, unable to make sense of a good portion of them, Yvonne spoke hesitantly, "So . . . you don't know how to get us home?"

Reality slammed into Nell hard. How had she not realized it sooner? Elrond was supposed to know what to do, how to get them home— But his questions earlier . . . He probably had no idea.

"I don't even know how it is you came to be here." His gaze fell to the floor between them, seeming weary despite his agelessness. "You are new to this world; perhaps the first of your kind to ever come here. Were times different, I could have done more, but the strength of Elves is fading. Do not lose hope, though; Galadriel knows many secrets which I do not, and Mithrandir's knowledge is even greater than hers. Perhaps one of them will know how to return you to your own world, if such a thing is even possible. I do not sense great evil in either of you, but anyone who has had dealings with the Black Riders requires great scrutiny. I will offer you the hospitality of Imladris, as I would with any weary traveler who was welcomed into our valley, but first, I must know more." He turned his gaze back to Nell. "Tell me more about this Rider you saw. Leave out nothing. The Riders are heralds of great evil; they are themselves a powerful dark force that can be felled by no mortal hand. If they ride these lands already, circumstances may be more dire than I thought."

Nell swallowed around her pounding heart and took a few moments to organize her thoughts before speaking. Thankfully, her voice held a bit more confidence this time. "I started having dreams—nightmares—weeks before coming here . . . In the dreams, a rider would be after me. Maybe it was more than one . . . I don't remember. I just remember being very afraid . . ." She paused to steady her nerves, trying not to let the vision of the large black horse and the reaper-like figure on its back, barreling down upon her, overtake her mind. "And sometimes the dreams would come back to me while I was awake. It was like I was paranoid, like there was something there . . . but there wasn't. Then, the night I came here—from my world—" (it felt strange for her to say that) "—I was chased by one of the riders. It felt so real . . ." A chill passed through her, as if the creatures were breathing down her neck at that very moment. "I—ran into the road to get away"—her voice cracked as she recalled her terror—"and I thought that I'd been hit by a car . . . then I was here . . ." Only after she took a breath did she wonder what Lord Elrond must be thinking a car might be. "That's when I realized I recognized the scenery. I had seen it in those dreams . . ."

Thus far, Lord Elrond had listened with a stern expression, his eyes, though still intense, no longer so intimidating. Now, he spoke. "Where did you find yourself when you arrived here?"

"A few miles outside of Bree," she replied, not missing a beat. Having spoken so openly about her traumatic experiences with the rider, she felt as though she had been relieved of a burden and may soon, at last, have an explanation for the dreams. A new sense of confidence was welling up inside of her under the lord's gaze.

"The situation is more dire than I thought." The lord's smooth brow furrowed more deeply with concern. "I must try to reach Mithrandir. He should have arrived in Imladris long before now, and though he is not always the most punctual of guests, when paired with a sighting of a Black Rider so near to my lands, and the appearance of two travelers from farther than I thought possible, his absence is all the more concerning. Dark times are no longer looming in our future; I fear they are already here." He sighed, then refocused on the young women. "I am sorry I could not help you more. I do not know this for certain, but my heart tells me that your presence here is not a coincidence. A greater power placed you here, at this time, but I know not yet whether that power was one of good or evil. Yet I do not believe that you yourselves are agents of the shadow, and so I offer you my hospitality. You may stay in Imladris as guests of the House of Elrond. Rest and know you are safe here, for no forces of darkness will breach this valley while my power holds. I will seek council with those wiser than myself in regards to your situation. For now, I will have Erdion escort you to your rooms; I am sure you are eager for a reprieve after many long days of travel. In the days to come, perhaps we shall speak again. I confess myself curious about the world you come from."

Yvonne bowed her head, with Nell quick to follow her lead, and replied, "Thank you, Lord Elrond. We deeply appreciate your hospitality, and of course, I would be happy to talk with you about Earth."

All of Lord Elrond's talk of darkness and evil was not something that Nell wished to hear before going to sleep, but then she remembered the peace that she had felt upon arriving in this place, and knew that he was right: They were safe here. And whoever this Mithrandir was—not a name that she recognized from what she knew of Tolkien's stories—he sounded like a very reassuring person.

With the promise of a proper night's sleep just around the corner, she and Yvonne turned for the door, which opened before them. Erdion stood there, a pleasant smile on his lips, and ushered them through, closing the door after them. Lorthon and Boren were still in the corridor, and as they both straightened from where they had been leaning against the wall, Nell could see how much they could use a proper night's sleep as well.

"This way," Erdion said, and strode off. Nell and Yvonne did not hesitated a moment, following eagerly, albeit rather wearily, as the Rangers brought up the rear. As they made their way through the halls, Nell already felt more comfortable than before. She knew that it had much to do with Elrond's assurance that they were welcome and safe, despite knowing that they were not even of this world. She couldn't remember the last time that she had felt such acceptance and security.

"Here we are," Erdion announced, stopping at a closed door and turning to his charges. "The ladies may take this chamber and the next. Nightclothes have been laid out for you, and you will find any refreshments that you require. Please, be at home here." With that, he strode off, gesturing for the Rangers to follow him. The two Men glanced back at the young women, who gave them heartfelt smiles of gratitude, then, after reciprocating with nods of acknowledgement, they proceeded down the hall after the Elf.

Nell turned to Yvonne. "I'll take the next one," she said, pointing to the door a short way down the hall. There was so much to say, so much to discuss, after the audience with Lord Elrond, and she could only imagine how much Yvonne was dying to say. But now was not the time. Now they needed to take care of themselves, and she could see the same thoughts behind her companion's eyes.

Yvonne smiled softly and uttered a quiet "Goodnight," to which Nell responded with a tired smile of her own and a little wave. As Yvonne turned her doorknob, Nell strode to her own room, more than a little eager, despite her weariness, to see what awaited her beyond the door.

Nell had already gotten a taste of the chambers in Rivendell, but she had not expected a guest room to be so beautifully decorated—though, she supposed, this was the Elves' work. The bed was rather large and covered in soft-looking pure-white sheets and an earthen-tone comforter, which were not in the least disturbed by the very slight breeze wafting through the open window arches. The windows were hung with sheer white drapes, pulled back and fastened at the sides. The bedframe was carved in an elegant woven-style design that reminded her a bit of Celtic ornamentation, and four large candelabras stood about the room, perhaps taller than herself, each holding more than half a dozen gently glowing candles. The arms of the candelabras, shaped in a style similar to that of the bed, stretched upward gracefully, like a series of vines winding around each other in symmetrical harmony. An open door stood off to the right, through which she could glimpse the edge of what appeared to be a carved bathtub—an extremely tempting sight.

Nell closed the hall door behind herself and crossed to the bed. She turned to take in the room in its entirety, and saw that on a small table against the wall opposite the bed had been laid a modest platter of fresh and colorful delicacies—fruits, vegetables and more. She was sorely tempted to indulge herself in such a treat right then and there, but then she remembered the possibility of a bath, and at that moment, caught a lovely floral scent that seemed to be drifting forth through the open door. The bath would come first, despite her empty stomach. She would enjoy the food much more once cleansed of the unfortunate evidence of her travels.

She ventured into the washroom. The floral scent was thicker now, and the air hung with warmth and moisture, despite the open windows. These were smaller than the arches in the bedchamber, beginning above the height of her shoulders, and all were covered by the same flowing white curtains. She inspected the bath. The water was still steaming. She tested it with a finger, and was pleased to find it not too hot. She also found a small dish of paste-like soap on a side table, alongside a soft towel, folded and waiting for her. But no clothes. She wandered back into the bedchamber, and found what she had missed before: a nightgown folded on the bedside table. She picked it up, and the material felt like silk in her hands. Or rather, what she imagined that silk might feel like, having never come into contact with such material. Or perhaps even better, for this Elven silk, rippling and glossy and unbelievably soft, felt almost like liquid in her hands. Was she even worthy of such a fine garment? The Elves apparently thought so, and she was so grateful for anything to wear other than her tunic that she would not be one to dispute it.

She returned to the washroom with the gown and closed the door, then, having noticed the toilet—the best sign of civilization that she had seen yet, and she was only a little surprised that it existed here, though it was a bit different from those on Earth—relieved herself before stripping off the rest of her grimy road-wear. It would need a good washing. (Hopefully only one would be necessary.)

Lowering herself into the hot water, she sighed deeply, repressing a groan. She hadn't known that baths could feel so wonderful. She sat for a minute or two, just breathing in the steam and the gentle perfume, wondering vaguely what had been used for the scent. It was nothing that she recognized, and she wished that she could remember it always. Then, she set to washing. As the dirt and sweat left her, she sighed again. She had been so occupied with other things upon their arrival to Rivendell that she hadn't given much thought to the state of her appearance in the presence of Erdion or Lord Elrond, and she tried to not feel ashamed now, thinking back on what they might have thought of her. The Elves were so pristine and lovely that it hurt. She had never cared much about her looks, and had adhered only to the more basic of beauty rituals, having seen how much work it took some of the girls that she knew to keep their hair and skin and everything so seemingly perfect. Now, she almost wished that she'd put more work into herself. But she knew that if she had been accustomed to pampering herself, her time in this world would be even more difficult. Although, Yvonne appeared to be rather well put together, and she seemed to be doing fine.

Nell leaned back in the tub and closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of the water and the very slight coolness of the night air circulating the steam throughout the small room. She couldn't believe how relaxed she felt after such an arduous journey . . .

Her eyes snapped open as she caught herself about to doze off. She blinked several times, then regretfully sat up. Though it was relaxing now, the bathtub was not the place for a restful night's sleep, she would surely awaken cold and sore.

Stepping out carefully, she grabbed the towel and made quick work of drying off as the night air cooled her skin, scrubbing her hair with the driest portion. She had never gone so long without washing it before, and it was a relief to have it feel somewhat normal again. She then slipped on the nightgown, and was almost embarrassed by the way that the material felt against her skin. Combing her fingers through her hair, she returned to the bedchamber, and went directly for the platter of refreshments. Beside the food was a lantern, adding an extra pool of light to the dim room, and next to it was a comb. She picked up the intricately carved item and ran her fingers over it appreciatively before dragging it through her damp hair. She placed the comb back down, then lifted the platter and took it to the bed. She set it on the mattress and took a seat beside it, then proceeded to eat as gracefully as she could with how hungry she was. The food was so light—even the thin slices of rustic-tasting meat and pieces of sharp cheese—that she was not worried about it being too much for her stomach to handle.

It was light, yes, but immensely satisfying, and when she had eaten her fill, she put the platter back, and returned to bed, peeled back the covers, and slid underneath. They were cool, yet snug, and she felt her body give in to the comfort even more quickly than it had in the bath. The sounds of waterfalls and river and the distant chirps of tiny insects lulled her quickly into a deep sleep.