I was lying on something soft and slightly cool, surrounded by soothing warmth. For a second I was sure I was back home and in my bed. Slowly my memory came back. I remembered passing out when Arwen and the other elf arrived. After that it was only a few images flooding into my mind. I could remember being on a horseback, racing through some light forest, water, the black riders chasing us. The last thing I could recall was me almost falling from the horse.
I fought to open my eyes. It hurt, there was too much light in the mostly white room. It took me several minutes to get used to the brightness invading my vision until I could see clearly. Sitting up carefully I realized I was lying in a bed with white silken sheets. Same as my vision my mind seemed to clear and I started to remember more clearly what had happened.
'We know what you are…' A cold shiver ran down my spine, the cold scratching voice carved into my brain. I remembered the excruciating pain in my arm and my whole body. I started to panic as memories came flooding back. I grasped the tight bandages covering my right arm and tried ripping them of in my frenzy.
"Don't." A heavy body dropped down next to me and gripped my arms apart. I looked up with tears already clouding my vision and was faced with Striders' worried eyes. I was unable to speak, I just lost it. All the confusion, exhaustion and pain of the last couple of weeks tumbling down on me at once. He pulled me into a firm hug the same second I started crying and shaking with heavy sobs. He just sat there on the edge of my bed and had my head tucked under his chin while my tears soaked his shirt. It seemed like a lifetime until I finally started to calm down, still he kept me close. And even if he said he didn't trust me just a couple of days ago, I felt safe in his embrace. A safety I hadn't felt since my father left our family, he used to hug me just like this whenever nightmares would keep me from sleeping. I slowly pulled away from him, rubbing at the remaining tears on my cheeks.
"Why are you here? Remember saying you don't trust me?" He answered with soft voice and eyes still sitting next to me.
"I didn't trust you then. I still don't know what to make of that fairy tale about where you are from. But you tried to safe the Halfling at the expanse of your own life. An enemy would have revealed himself at that moment or would have fled the scene. You did neither." I couldn't stand looking at him. I tried to help and failed. I could have gotten them killed by intervening. I almost got myself killed. Again…
"How are you feeling?" He carefully grabbed my right arm and started to loosen the bandages.
"There is a dull pain in my arm and my throat feels sore. Shouldn't my arm burn like hell? It sure did when that Wraith stabbed me. It felt like fire burning inside my veins." He lightly shook his head as he pulled away the rest of the fabric. I swallowed heavily. There was a large amount of fresh scar tissue and bloody crusts on the inner side of my arm, surrounded by a dark ring and from there like vines stretched dark lines all around my forearm. They looked like ink against my pale skin and I slowly closed my eyes, not able to look at it anymore.
"It is the magic of Lord Elrond that keeps the pain down. He put you into a deep healing sleep for two weeks, to give your body and mind time to rest and start healing. I cannot tell you if you will lose those marks or if they will taint your skin for life. There is hardly anyone who survived a Morgul-blade." My stomach tightened upon his words though they held no malice.
"I must leave now. But I will send for someone to bring you food and help you dress. Now that you are awake Lord Elrond will want to meet with you." Strider got back to his feet but before he could fully turn away I grabbed his hand, refusing him to leave me alone. He looked at me, expecting me to say something. I didn't say anything for I didn't know how to tell him that I didn't want him to leave me alone with my thoughts.
"I have to meet with someone. I promise I will be there when you are brought to Lord Elrond." With a reassuring squeeze he pulled his hand away and left the room.
Once more I looked down at my disfigured arm. Seeing the once so smooth skin now disrupted with those dark lines and the scar tissue made me cringe. The dull pain reminding me that my body was far from a full recovery. If the elven magic was able to have me out cold for two weeks I could only image in what kind of pain I should be. Two weeks… I have been out two weeks and still there is need to subdue my pain.
A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. An elven woman with long red hair entered, carrying a plate with food. She came to the bed and set down the plate on the small table next to me. The plate was loaded with fruits of all kind, some familiar and some I had never seen before. There was bread, still warm, and cheese. My stomach growled and I realized how hungry I was.
"You are allowed to eat. I will return with a dress for you." The woman slightly bowed her head in the most gracious way and left me alone once more. I started eating hesitantly, unsure if my stomach would tolerate food after such a long time. As soon as I swallowed down the first bite I let out a relieved groan. The bread was the most delicious I had ever tasted. It was soft and warm and tasted of rosemary and butter.
Until the elven woman returned I had cleared almost all of the food. She looked at me and gave me a warm smile that lit up her pale blue eyes.
"The ranger said you would be hungry." I stopped eating and looked at her. She was carrying a light green dress with long sleeves and a decently cut neckline.
"I will help you get dressed when you are ready. We had to shorten the dress a bit since you are not as tall as our kind, but it should fit you just fine. I took the liberty to tend to your hair while you were still asleep. Forgive me to say it was quite the mess, my lady." I looked at her in surprise. To me she looked like the lady and it shocked me that she actually tended to my hair like a common servant.
"Thank you so much for your kindness. I wish I could repay you for it. I am sure you have better things to do than to take care of me…" Her laughter was light and melodic.
"You are a guest in Lord Elrond's' house, so it is my duty and pleasure to look after you. Let me help you get dressed Lady Kayleigh." I slowly lifted the covers off of my legs and carefully swung them over the ledge.
"I am no lady. Just Kayleigh is enough." She gave me a soft smile.
"You were willing to give your life for another. That makes you a lady in my eyes." She helped me get out of the linen shirt someone had put on me instead of my own clothes and steadied me with more strength than a woman of her size should hold. With a little effort I managed to get into the dress and she tied the corset that made the top in tight in my back. The dress was light as a feather and felt cool on my skin. I was glad that the sleeves were long enough to cover up my injured arm. I didn't want anybody to look at it when I myself couldn't even do it.
"What is your name if I may ask?" I asked her when she had me sit down to put my hair into a loose braid.
"Thúldil. It means something like spirited friend in the common tongue." I repeated her name. I liked the feel of the elven tongue, even before I ended up here I always thought it was one of the most melodic languages whether real or made up.
"Now you look like a proper lady. One could get the impression that you have elvish blood in your veins." The last part she almost spoke to herself. I slight blush crept into my cheeks. Nobody had ever told me in such a nice way that I looked pretty.
"I wouldn't know if I did. I don't really remember where I come from." Maybe I should keep to myself that I am from another world. At least for now until I spoke to Elrond.
"I must take my leave. You will be escorted to meet Lord Elrond soon." I nodded and felt my heart sink when she left the room. A look in the mirror left me baffled. Was that really me? I indeed looked like a lady. I was almost afraid to think the word as I never considered myself beautiful.
Another knock on the door snatched me back to reality and I got up to open the door. I almost jumped back in surprise. In front of me stood the male elf from the night we got attacked. Again he was clad all in white, his long blond hair framing an angelic face with bright blue eyes. His serious expressions softened slightly as he saw my surprise.
"My lady." His left arm went behind his back while his right hand rested over his heart as he slightly tilted his head towards me. I didn't respond. I didn't know what was expected from me, so I stood there in the doorway like a total idiot. He didn't seem to notice my confusion and if he did he just ignored it.
"I was asked to accompany you to meet Lord Elrond." His voice was like silk, warm and soothing. I remembered him reaching out to me just before I passed out. It took me a moment to realize he was holding out his hand to me. A little embarrassed I put my hand in his and with a soft smile he guided my hand onto his forearm so my arm was loosely looped through his.
After a few steps he slowed down his pace as he recognized I wasn't used to walking around in long dresses and his steps covered more ground than mine.
"Hold the skirt up a little with your free hand. It makes walking easier because you don't trip on the fabric." Blushing I gripped the skirt and lifted it a few inches.
"Thank you…" I mumbled blushing an even deeper red as I heard his low chuckle. After we passed several crossings and hallways that looked all the same to me with the white wood and pillars that looked like actual trees, I was sure I would never find my way back to my room on my own. Whenever we passed by other elves they seemed curious towards me and seemed to hold a lot of respect towards my elvish companion.
"If I might be so bold I would like to say that you look lovely, my lady. Nothing like the night we found you at the old watchtower." His words took me by surprise and I almost lost my footing if it hadn't been for him.
"I still owe you my gratitude for that night, my lord. I don't know if I… if we would still be alive if it hadn't been for you and the lady." He looked down at me and his eyes filled me with warmth.
"There is no need for that. As second in command I was sent out alongside Lord Elrond's' daughter in search of your small party. Although I must say we were taken by surprise as there was no information on you being with them. As if you had appeared out of thin air. Still, your companions were in great worry for you and the Halfling." Second in command. That explains the way the other elves reacted to him. He must be an important warrior then. I tried to remember his name, I knew he was in the books but the more I tried to remember the more it seemed to slip away.
"Shall we proceed?" I looked up in surprise, I hadn't even realized we had stopped and nodded.
"May I ask your name, my lord?" I finally gathered enough courage, no idea if it was considered rude to ask of this. After all I was just a human in this world that was so different from mine.
"My name is Glorfindel, head captain of Lord Elrond's guard and captain of Rivendell's military force." I felt embarrassed. He really was an important personality and I felt like I didn't pay him the respect he deserved. He stopped again in front of two large doors. He knocked and after a few seconds he opened one of the doors. At the same time he pulled his arm from mine and laid his hand on the small of my back.
"My Lord Elrond, I brought the mortal as you requested." I was surprised. His voice was now more serious than a few minutes earlier and he seemed less approachable and more like the captain he actually was. I hesitated to enter until the pressure on my back increased and I took a careful step into the room. What I stepped into looked like a huge library. Countless shelves full of books and large windows that let in the warm light. On the opposite site of the room, next to one of the large windows, was a table and some chairs. Two of them were occupied by a tall and dark haired elf, who had to be Elrond, and an old man cloaked in grey. Anyways my attention was on the third man in the room. Strider was slowly walking towards the door.
"Thank you for bringing her, my friend." I looked back at Glorfindel. He wasn't staying? Somehow my heart dropped at the thought of him leaving me with the three of them. He seemed to sense my distress.
"There are other matters that need my attention. But I shall return for you to accompany you back to your room later, my lady." His voice had softened a bit again and with a bow of courtesy towards the room he disappeared, leaving me standing in the doorway.
"Come forth, Lady Kayleigh. There is much we have to discuss." Elrond had gotten out of his chair and motioned for me to step forward as Strider closed the door.
I neared the table and was glad the ranger stayed behind my chair putting a calming hand on my shoulder as I sat down. For a short while silence hung heavy in the room, the only noise being the birds outside.
"Maybe some tea would make this matter a bit more pleasant. Something to calm down the nerves, perhaps?" The old man was the first to speak with a deep rumbling voice that reminded me of my grandfather.
"Indeed old friend. Tea is an excellent idea." Out of nowhere a door opened and Elrond ordered the entering elf to bring some tea. I was getting anxious as we waited for the tea and the silence surrounded us once more.
"Are you feeling better now?" I looked into the eyes of the old man, who turned out to be the wizard Gandalf, and set down my cup of tea. I slowly nodded as the hot liquid seemed to have a calming effect on me and I relaxed a bit back into the chair.
"Why don't we start with who you are and where you come from?" Here we go again… I looked to my right at Strider sitting in the chair next to me and waited for him to nod before I answered.
"My name is Kayleigh Cruse and I am not sure how it is possible that I am here. I don't know how to explain it. One minute I was dying and a moment later I wake up in a place that only exists in books where I am from. I… I don't belong here and all of this isn't even supposed to be real, still I feel pain and hunger. And I don't understand it, I should have been dead and now I am inside a book…" My voice broke and I could feel the tears building up. Strider took a hold of my trembling hand and told me to breath deep.
I expected the elf and the wizard to react the same way the ranger did the first time I told him who I really was. But I was surprised yet again.
"Then you have knowledge about what is to come and what already happened. Since you cannot tell us about the future, tell us something you couldn't possibly know but that has already happened. Take your time." Gandalf filled my cup again and pushed it back towards me with a warm smile. I looked at Elrond who tilted his head in approval and held onto Striders' hand a little tighter.
"I couldn't tell you about the future even if I wanted to, the more I try to remember names and what happens next, the more my memories seem to fade or cloud over. Maybe it is because what was supposed to happen was altered so much by me being here. But I remember that his name isn't Strider, that he is in fact the heir to the throne of Gondor. And I know why Gandalf didn't meet with the Hobbits in Bree. It was because he was held captive by Saruman on the top of his tower in Isengard." Silence took over once more and I shrank back in my chair.
"I am sorry… I know it sounds crazy and you must think me a spy since I know of those things. I wish I could explain how all of this happened, but I have no idea. I was as good as dead, I am not supposed to be here. I… I don't know what I am supposed to do. I remember less and less what is about to come but I know it is dangerous and the outcome might be totally different whatever I do or say. I might plunge this world into chaos and darkness if I do anything, I might as well if I just sit here and do nothing. I…" I started to panic again. The tears were flowing and I felt like I couldn't breathe.
"There is no way of knowing what the outcome of all of this is. But you being here is no mistake. It means that you have a role to play in what is to come." Elrond had taken my hands in his and somehow his presence calmed me down when I looked into his eyes. He laid a hand on my forehead and closed his eyes for a few seconds before opening them again.
"I can sense something hidden deep inside of you, child. An ancient pain, like a mark on your soul that is only left by death. You have indeed come a long way and there will be decisions to be made that will determine your fate in this world." His words were cryptic. I remembered that the elves had a higher sense of what surrounded them and could tell a lot about the feelings of those in their presence. They were so ancient they held magic, it was in their blood.
"The Wraith on the Weathertop… He talked to me. He said they knew what I was before he stabbed me. What did he mean? I am just an ordinary human." All eyes turned on Gandalf and he let out a heavy sigh.
"There are old legends about there being several realities that are separated but connect sometimes if certain circumstances are matched. That might be the reason why our world is a story in yours. I have read about people like you a long time ago. If I am correct it is no coincidence that you woke up here in Middle Earth. You are what they called a drifter. You belong to more than one world and if you die your soul passes on to the next world. You must have had a strong connection to those stories or you would have ended up somewhere else. As for your knowledge of our world, it is clouded over more and more to keep you safe and because you are not supposed to remember things that have yet to happen, because you could be tempted to intervene in a way that would change everything or could in the worst case cause the death of someone who has to play an essential role." I stared at the old man. This made even less sense than me being here.
"But that is impossible. How am I what you say? My father is a mechanic and my mother a surgeon. There is nothing special about my family, nothing I wouldn't have noticed if out of the ordinary…"
"It has nothing to do with your heritage. It is simply something rooted in your blood because of the constellation of the stars at the time of your birth. Different worlds and realities aligning in a certain way release some powerful magic. You have simply been born at the right time in the right place to absorb this magic. It has different ways to reveal itself. In your case from what Aragorn told us about you, this magic saved you from death and brought you into our world. Only time will show how powerful the magic you hold is." Everyone in the room was somewhere in their own thoughts. I tried to wrap my head around the fact that magic actually existed where I was taught things like that didn't exist.
"We believe the rider attacked you after Frodo because he could sense the magic in your blood. It drew him to you and made the enemy aware of your existence. They will try to hunt you down. If they got their hands on you, they would have someone who holds information of incomparable value." It was the first time Strider, Aragorn, spoke.
"But the rider tried to kill me." He shook his hand and pushed the sleeve of my dress away from my injured arm.
"That is not what a Morgul-blade does. At least not all it is capable of. Its poison corrupts the heart, pulls you into the shadows and makes you one of them if the remaining shard stays in the body for too long. We were able to retrieve them from you and Frodo, but we cannot repair the damage done on your soul. Some of this darkness will always remain within you, to which extent I cannot say. You will sense them when they are close for that darkness will call out to them." His eyes turned softer when he saw the desperation taking over my features.
"So I am doomed already… I can't do anything. I couldn't even keep Frodo safe, because I was too afraid." My voice was barely more than a whisper, still all three of them seemed to hear me just fine.
"You are not doomed. You and the Halfling are now both chained to the fate of the ring, of which you should know already. The decision you have to make is what you will do with that knowledge. We create our own fate. You have to decide if you want to stay here in Rivendell under the care and protection of my kind, for as long as we can give you shelter. Or you can decide that you want to act instead of waiting for others to decide your fate. I sent out messengers and called all races here. There will be a council held where we will decide together what the fate of the ring and therefor your fate will be. You are free to attend the meeting if you wish to. But for now you should recover and regain your strength." I nodded weakly. All of this was way too much. A knock on the door had me turning around. Glorfindel had returned and made his way over to the table to stand beside Elrond. He bent down to whisper something in the dark-haired elf's ear, his eyes never leaving mine. Elrond nodded at that and looked back at me as he got out of his chair.
"You do not need to make that decision now, Lady Kayleigh. But soon you will have to choose your path. Glorfindel will return you to your chambers. Rest." Elrond's hand was cool against my skin and even if his words were full of authority his eyes showed compassion for me. He left the library, Aragorn excusing himself as well after giving my hand anther reassuring squeeze.
"I will remain here a little longer. Lord Elrond has made some additions to his collection of books I would love to take a look at." Glorfindel bowed his head to the wizard and motioned for me to follow him. Once we stepped outside he carefully closed the door. I waited for him, I had absolutely no idea from where we had come earlier.
"We should cover this up again." I nearly jumped out of my skin when his fingers softly wrapped around my wrist and he pulled the sleeve back down to cover my arm. I felt a cold chill in my stomach as his fingers brushed against the marked skin and quickly turned away. I didn't want him to see the tears of exhaustion, pain and shame.
"Why are you crying?" He still didn't let go of my hand even as I tried to pull away from him.
"I don't." Still refusing to look at him it took me by surprise when he gently took a hold of my chin and turned my face towards him. He tilted my head back until I looked up into his searching eyes.
"No, you sure don't." His voice was a soft whisper as he brushed away the tears running down my cheek.
"I don't understand why this is happening. I feel so weak. I almost got myself killed. And what for? It didn't make a difference that I tried to help even though I knew I would never be able to fight off those black riders. It didn't do anything that I intervened. Frodo still got hurt and I… I feel so embarrassed…" I couldn't keep the sob escaping my throat. Here I stood in the middle of the hallway, crying again in front of someone who was so used to this life and world that was still new to me. I never had to fight before and that made me feel like I was the only one here who didn't fit in. Who didn't belong. Who was just so different from everyone around me that it made me feel more alone than I ever felt back in my world. Glorfindel pulled me into his chest, trapping me in a firm but soft embrace until I started to calm down.
"It is no weakness or shame in admitting failure if you did the best you could, no matter the outcome. You are young. You still have so much to learn about the hardships of life. But you are not weak. You stayed instead of running for your life. You stayed and tried to safe another. Yes, you got injured. But by an enemy whose encounter most seasoned warriors wouldn't survive. You have nothing to be ashamed of, niphredil." He looked down at me with soft eyes, that didn't give away how old he really was. Whatever he called me, I liked the sound of it. I pulled away a little and wiped away the remaining tears.
"You surely must have more important things to do than to calm down a crying girl." I tried to apologize, he sure as hell had better things to do than looking after me.
"You remind me strongly of someone I used to know a long time ago. So it is no bother to me." He reached around me and opened a door. I hadn't even realized we were already back at my room. I surprised myself when I reached out for his hand before he could leave.
"Will I see you again?" I blushed. I didn't mean to ask that, I just liked being around him.
"If my company pleases you, I shall find the time to find you." He bowed his head again and left.
