I decided not to translate the Sindarin phrases as most of you might already know thei meaning anyways. If you won't me to do it anyways just let me know.


"Tell me again why exactly I have to wear a dress…" I was annoyed and tired. I hadn't slept much this night, dreams of the black riders and the Weathertop kept haunting me. Thúldil had come to me early this morning, carrying a dress.

"Because Lord Elrond's council will meet today. And since you are supposed to attend this meeting you need to look representable. Not that you wouldn't look lovely in your ordinary clothing. But today as a guest of this house you represent it and as such it will be expected of you to dress like a lady." I let out another heavy sigh as she continued to brush the knots out of my hair. I knew that she meant well and that it wasn't meant as an insult. But with a past like mine, being told to dress up wasn't exactly getting me excited in a good way.

"I wish I had curls like you do…" Thúldil sighed finger combing my long blonde curls once more. She decided to just pull back some strands from the front into a lose braid on the back of my head while letting the rest fall down over my back. I looked at her through the mirror.

"I have never seen an elf with curls. Are there any?" She laughed softly and shook her head.

"No. Our race seems to lack the ability to grow curls. Though Lady Arwen's hair is a little more wavy…" She finished my hair and had me step into the dress. It was white and she told me it had been made just for me. The sleeves were long enough to cover up my injured arm and the shoulders were left bare. The corset top had silver stitching all over, making it look like it was covered with silver vines and leaves.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw myself in the mirror. I had never considered myself beautiful but the woman looking back at me now seemed to bare hardly any resemblance to me.

A knock on the door plucked me from my thoughts and I stood hesitantly as Glorfindel entered. Thúldil bowed in respect to him before leaving us alone.

"I thought you might wish for someone to accompany you." I averted my gaze and bowed my head in silent appreciation of him being so considerate. I couldn't quite figure what it was that mostly had me so nervous around him. Maybe it was that I just didn't understand why he would be taking so much time in tutoring me with the horses and always handle me with this affectionate care I had done nothing for to deserve it.

"Who would have thought that so much beauty was hiding behind the girl that I brought here…" He was speaking mostly to himself, still it made me flush red.

"I stand nothing in comparison to the elven women. And I doubt I hardly can keep up in appearance with the noblewomen of men…" I almost flinched back when his fingers touched my skin to tilt up my head.

"Don't be so quick to belittle yourself. You might not see it that way, but the elven beauty is dull. Nothing special that would catch the eye. At least not to me, not anymore. Not after having lived so long. Beauty is to be found in the little things. Your appearance is quite extraordinary for a human but it is the fire burning inside of you that sparks it up even more." I couldn't bear looking at him any longer. Back home I had been used to unwanted attention but Glorfindel's chivalry left me clue and speechless. I simply wasn't used to someone acting like that without expecting something in return.

"Shall we?" With a small smirk he stood by the door and waited for me. A little anxious I nodded and closed the distance between us.

Glorfindel guided me through a variety of corridors I didn't recognize. He was awfully quiet which added to my anxiety.

"You look pale, niphredil." I looked up at him, unsure how to respond to that.

"I am nervous… I don't know what Lord Elrond expects of me. Or for that matter what everybody else will be expecting. If there is any reason for me to be there besides looking pretty." I almost lost my footing when we came to an abrupt stop.

"Don't do that." Before I could ask him what he meant he continued. "If Lord Elrond wanted you there just for appearances, he would have told you so. You have your part to play same as the Hobbit. Whatever that part might be will be determined soon enough. So stop acting like a child. That is not you but your fear of the unknown talking." Shocked I looked up at him and tried to pull my arm out of his grasp. Never before had he spoken to me like that and it scared me.

"I am sorry…" My voice was but a whisper. With a sigh he pulled me close and pressed his lips against my forehead.

"Forgive me. After all those decades there are few things that have me so on edge like this meeting. I didn't mean to lash out at you like that. This meeting will determine all our fates, all of Middle Earth will have to bear the consequences of what we decide today. Don't worry about what might happen. You will have your seat next to mine among the elves of Rivendell and if need be, your voice will be heard as an equal. You have as much a say in this matter as everybody else. After all you and the Hobbit are bound to the fate of the ring." For a small moment I couldn't help myself and threw my body into the elf. I needed this small moment of comfort and as his arms tightened around me I knew he understood that need to feel save.

"As long as I can, I promise to keep you safe, niphredil."

o-0-o

The council was held on a kind of secluded balcony. Vast enough to hold the crow that had gathered. I stood next to Glorfindel, still in the shade, and stared in awe. Some faces seemed familiar, among the elves of Mirkwood, as my companion explained to me, I could make out Legolas. At the far end of the balcony I saw Aragorn talking to Gandalf and Frodo. I also could make out the man resembling a Viking, I had seen upon his arrival. Of whom I didn't know anyone was the party of dwarves, eyeing the elves in suspicion and likewise. I almost rolled my eyes at the obvious display of hatred and mistrust between both races.

With a gentle push to the small of my back Glorfindel guided me down the few stairs. I hated feeling the eyes of some of the men on my back. I hated the whispers that caught in my ears.

"A woman?"

"What purpose would a woman serf at such a meeting?"

"Bloody elves… bringing a woman into this…"

I looked up as a tall figure blocked my path and was met with kind eyes.

"Lady Kayleigh…" His formality took me by surprise as Legolas lifted my hand to his lips and gave me a warm smile. He had been teaching me how to shoot arrows properly for quite some time now and never had he acted like this.

"Why are you acting so formal all of a sudden?" I couldn't help the question. Glorfindel still had his hand against my back and now whispered softly into my ear.

"Because it is expected of him. After all as the prince of Mirkwood he has to keep up appearances at occasions like this." I bit my tongue in order to curse. How could I just forget that he is a prince? Why am I forgetting so much the longer I am here? I cannot even remember the names of those present at this council…

"The same formal rules of behaviour are expected of you. That means if you wish to keep your face, I suggest you courtesy now." I made haste of following suit. I was thankful for Glorfindel being here and helping me through all this formality as I knew almost nothing about it. I highly doubted what was considered appropriate in my world could easily be an offensive move in this.

Legolas softly nodded his head in approval of my gesture and gave me another smile before returning to his people. From where he was standing I caught Aragorn's eye and he bowed his head as a greeting.

"I fear we have yet to meet, my lady." The 'Viking' had approached me and was now as, except for the Hobbits and dwarves, everyone else towering over me.

"I am afraid so, my lord." I repeated the courtesy as before, this time with more ease, since I knew what was expected of me.

"Though I have to wonder how it is possible that Lord Elrond managed to hide such beauty from my eyes all those weeks." I was taken a little aback by his flirtatious smile and once more I appreciated Glorfindel never leaving my side. I also noticed that Aragorn, though still in conversation with Gandalf, seemed to take in every move the man in front of me made with cautious eyes.

"We should take our seats, Lady Kayleigh. There will be time for conversation later." I followed the elf's gaze. Elrond had appeared on the balcony and made his way towards his seat. Slowly everyone took their seats and the voices ebbed down.

"Who was that man?" I whispered to Glorfindel who showed me to my seat between him and Gandalf.

"If I am not mistaken he would be Boromir, son of Denethor II who is currently steward on the throne of Gondor. Why do you ask?"

"I am not sure. There is something about him… Something I should know about him but that keeps escaping my mind the more I try to remember." I stopped talking when Elrond stood up again, now addressing all who had gathered.

"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle Earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom." He stopped for a brief moment before he turns to Frodo motioning for the pedestal in the middle.

"Bring forth the Ring, Frodo." I watched the Hobbit get up to his feet and lay the ring on the pedestal. When he sat back down he seemed as if someone lifted a heavy burden from his shoulders. The Ring itself looked nothing special to me, a simple golden band. Still there was something that made my stomach churn.

"So it is true…" I look up to see Boromir put his hand up against his mouth and then get to his feet. "In a dream I saw the eastern sky grow dark. In the west a pale light lingered. A voice was crying: Your doom is near at hand, Isildur's bane is found. Isildur's bane…" With suspicion I watched him draw closer to the Ring with each word. Slowly he lifts his hand towards it as if in deep trance.

"Boromir!" Elrond looks alarmed and the feeling in my gut kept getting worse each second. The man jumped back when Gandalf sprang to his feet and started talking with a loud and resonating voice. Each word drawing in the air and darkening the sky.

"Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrâkatuluk agh burzum ishi krimpatul!" I almost winced as a pain shot through my head. Distantly I recognized that all elves seemed to be effected in the same way, while Boromir had backed up into his seat with a shocked face.

"Never before has anyone uttered words of that tongue here in Imladris." Elrond's voice was something in between anger and shock and he seemed to have paled just a little. I looked to my right when I felt Glorfindel's hand reassuringly touch my thigh as Gandalf apologized to those present.

"It is a gift! A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use the Ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the bloodof our people are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy, let us use it against him." Boromir had gotten up again, slowly walking around and addressing everyone with a voice used to giving orders and leading men into battle. I didn't like what he suggested one bit and I wasn't the only one.

"You cannot wield it. None of us can." Boromir turned to face Aragorn who had suddenly interrupted him. "The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master." All had fallen silent upon his calm words. Somehow I had the feeling this wasn't the end of this and was proved right a second later.

"And what would a ranger know of this matter?" The Gondorian looked down on Aragorn with something resembling disregard and disrespect. At those words now Legolas jumped to his feet in barely contained anger.

"This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." No everyone who did not permanently reside in Rivendell looked at the ranger with surprise and some with admiration. Boromir was less surprised but seemed not to believe who he was facing.

"Aragorn… This… is Isildur's heir?"

"And heir to the throne of Gondor.", continued the elf until Aragorn held his hand up to cut him off.

"Havo dad, Legolas." I silently thanked Glorfindel for translating that phrase to me as Boromir now looked first at Legolas and then back at the heir to Gondor in disgust.

"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king!" He returned to his seat still shooting daggers at Aragorn with his eyes. I withstood the urge to roll my eyes. Why do men always have the urge to prove themselves better than someone else?

"Aragorn is right. We cannot use it." Now Gandalf spoke up as well, backing up the ranger.

"You only have one choice. The Ring must be destroyed." Elrond had gotten to his feet again and was now looking at every single one of us.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Faster than anyone could have stopped him a dwarf with flaming red hair got up. His axe in both hand he brought it down on the Ring with all his might. Not even an inch before reaching its target the axe shattered and the dwarf was thrown back and off his feet. The same second an excruciating pain shot through my arm like wildfire. I distantly noticed I let out a scream of agony as around me arguments started to break out. My mind was flooded with pictures of death, destruction, blood, gore, pain and decay. All swimming together leaving behind only an eye of living fire that seemed to look straight down my soul.

'Where is my ring, Kayleigh?' I shook my head. Under no circumstance would I tell this monstrosity where the Ring was. Another wave of pain shot through my body and brain and had me screaming again at the top of my lungs.

"Kayleigh! Look at me, niphredil. I beg you, open your eyes." Panting I opened my eyes. I hadn't noticed I fell down to my knees. All voices had died down and every single one on the balcony was staring down at me. I could barely see their faces, my eyes fixed on those blue orbs in front of me, which I knew belonged to Glorfindel. He let out a relieved sigh before bringing o cloth to my face. I took a hold of the fabric with my left hand, my right arm still felt like it was on fire, and saw it was stained red where he had dabbed it against my nose. I kept the pressure against my face, I could feel the warm fluid on my skin. The same time the elf in front of me pushed back my sleeve to reveal the wound. When I looked down it had started bleeding a little and the black lines seemed to pulse in tune with their own sickening heartbeat. Slowly the pain subsided but I felt drained of all strength.

"Let me help you." Seemingly effortless Glorfindel lifted me to my feet and helped sit back down. Gently he helped me clean off the remaining blood from my face while still everyone was eyeing me with suspicion.

"I will take the Ring to Mordor. Although I do not know the way." My eyes shot to Frodo who was now standing as tall as someone of his height could. Gandalf's face softened and he cast the Halfling an affectionate but slightly pained smile.

"I shall help you bear this burden Frodo. As long as it is yours to bear." He walked around him and put a hand reassuringly on the Hobbit's shoulder. The next one was Aragorn to pledge his allegiance to Frodo and him followed Legolas and the dwarf who had tried to destroy the Ring. My mind was running at full speed as Boromir stated that he would too join in the quest to destroy the Ring.

"Wait…" my voice was hoarse and I still felt weak as I tried to stand. I gladly leaned onto Glorfindel who stepped closer in order to support me while standing up.

"I do not know to what extent I could be of use to you. But I refuse to stay here while you carry this burden. Since my life seems to be linked with the fate of the Ring, same as yours Frodo, I will not be left behind. I can only promise you to do everything within my power to help you see this Ring destroyed. If you will have me that is…" I could see the confusion in Boromir's and Gimli's face. Surely they were not used to women holding their ground. After all in this rather medieval world I was sure a woman's position was rather at the stove and not among warriors.

Frodo smiled at me with a knowing look. He understood why I had to do this. Because he had the same reason. We both could not stand by and watch others determine our fate or see the horrors the Ring showed us come to life.

"We would be honoured to know you by our side. The moment we leave you will be ready. You are skilled with the blade and you harbour a lot of courage." I smiled at Aragorn. I really appreciated his words and Legolas bowed his head in agreement. I slowly pulled away from the elf by my side and walked to stand in front of Frodo.

"We will see this evil destroyed, my friend." I gave him a small kiss to the head and I could hear him thanking me for my support. I let go of him to find my place between Aragorn and Legolas, still feeling Boromir's curious eyes on me.

"Frodo is not going anywhere without me!" Much to my and everyone elses surprise Sam Gamgee sprang from a bush and ran to join us.

"No indeed. It is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council meeting and you are not." A genuine smile played along Elrond's lips as he looked down on the two Hobbits standing close together. Suddenly, not without creating a little ruckus, the two remaining Halflings came bursting out of hiding behind some pillars.

"Wait! We're coming too!" To say the look of confusion on Elrond's face as they ran past him was hilarious was an understatement.

"You would have to send us home tied up and in a sack to stop us!" Merry stated with a grin on his face and Merry added to that stuttering.

"Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission… quest… thing…"

"Well that rules you out, Pip." First the Hobbit nodded sheepishly and as the words registered with him he looked at his cousin slightly offended.

"Ten companions… So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring." Elrond looked us over while he stated thus.

"Great! Where are we going?"

"You got to be kidding me…" I couldn't help the groan about Pippin's remark in.

o-0-o

"Remember to keep your heels down!" I tried my hardest to press my heels further down. It was the second time Glorfindel would actually let me sit on a horse to put what he taught me to the test. So far I did a mildly good job, at least I only fell down once.

It had been a few days since the council and still I was asking myself if I made the right call in joining the Fellowship. But what I had seen in that brief moment when the dwarf tried to shatter the Ring made it impossible for me to stay here and do nothing but wait for fate to be decided.

"Concentrate!" His harsh voice brought me back to the present. One thing I learned early on was that there was a huge difference between the Glorfindel who answered my countless questions and Glorfindel the instructor. He was relentless and had me do everything over and over again until he was satisfied. He motioned for me to guide the horse to our right, further into the woods surrounding Rivendell. As I did so there was a sudden cracking noise and the leaves at our feet burst all around us.

With a high pitched squeal the horse soared on his hind legs so fast I had to hold on for dear life. I panicked when it came crashing down on all four legs and started darting off between the trees. I barely registered the white patch chasing after us until in one fluid motion Glorfindel lifted himself in the saddle behind me. He reached around me for the reigns and brought the horse to a stop while uttering words in Sindarin.

"Are you all right?" I panted heavily, still shocked and nodded to his soft voice in my ear.

"You need to pay more attention to your surroundings. You could have seen the branch coming down." I just nodded. I feared I wouldn't be able to say a word anyways. He gently turned the horse around but stayed in the saddle behind me. We had been walking away some miles from the grounds of Rivendell.

"Relax. You did well considering it was your second time on a horseback. Just watch. I let him find his own way, I merely give him direction. He knows where he is stepping better than you do." I hesitantly let out my breath I didn't realize I had been holding in and eased myself back into his chest. Sitting in the saddle in front of him felt weird. For one because we were so close and the second thing was that I feared he would sense my inner turmoil.

"What is on your mind, niphredil?" Of course he noticed…

"I am wondering if I made the right call. If it is wise to have joined the Fellowship. If I will not be holding them back or endanger them if we were to meet the enemy…" His right arm wrapped around my shoulders and he rested his head on top of mine.

"If it was the right call we will only know once your journey begins in a few days. But remember what I told you: you are stronger than you know. And from what Aragorn tells me you have quite the talent for sword fighting and Legolas also seems quite content with your progress in archery. You will be able to hold your ground when it comes to battle. I will not lie to you. Training is one thing, but the first time you take a life will decide who you will be from then on. Even if you are left without a choice, the first blood you spill is something that marks you. Either you collapse under the weight of that action and succumb to madness or you keep going, accept it was something you had to do and seal off that part of you until it is needed. That way you survive. And I know you are a survivor." I had to smile a little at his words. It filled me with pried that apparently all of my instructors thought I was actually capable of taking care of myself. There was something else weighing down on me, something I had to ask.

"I need to ask you something…" I wasn't really sure how I wanted to go about this matter.

"Whatever it is, just ask."

"The first day I woke up after the events at Amon Sûl, you said I reminded you of someone. Who were you speaking about?" There was a moment of silence and I wasn't sure if he would answer me. I almost started to apologize when he spoke.

"I was talking about my sister. She died a long time ago. You remind me strongly of her. She was gentle and kind hearted but stubborn and fierce in battle. We fought side by side, where one was lacking the other filled in. When I look at you I see the same fire burning in your eyes. That is why I keep telling you how strong you are. Why I keep pushing you harder than I would be doing with anyone else. And so far it has proved me nothing but right. You learned so much in the short amount of time you spent in Imladris. You mastered the sword faster than it should be possible for a human, let alone speak a woman, in the time given. Most of human kind can't even wield a practicing sword properly at the end of their life. Aragorn taught you the elven way, like he was taught when he was a child. Who knows what resides within you that even you don't know of…" His voice trailed off and he started whispering words in Sindarin. Since I had started to learn the tongue of the elves I understood some words. Even if I didn't get all he was saying, I understood it was some kind of poem he was reciting. I had to smile when I noticed it was a poem about the beauty of battle, which was kind of ironic given the gentle nature of the elves.

o-0-o

I sat down on the long table between Aragorn and Legolas who both greeted me warmly. We were all dining together this evening for it was our last before leaving Rivendell tomorrow. Of course the dwarves had put some distance between themselves and the elves, stating that even if we were all to work together they still didn't trust them.

Lord Elrond had spoken some words before we all started eating and I was surprised to find meat on the table for I had experienced up until now that there was never served meat.

"It is rare for my kin to serve meat. We only do so on special occasions for we deem the life of the animals far too valuable to slaughter them for our own selfish needs." I looked at Legolas with a little remorse for I always enjoyed eating meat.

"Do not feel guilty for liking the taste of it. When we have meat we use all of the animal, so nothing goes to waste in order to honour its sacrifice." He smiled at me and offered me some of the meat which I took with a sheepish smile of my own.

Around us the mood brightened a little the more the wine started to flow. I noticed especially Boromir was getting quite friendly with the dwarves, making jokes and laughing a lot. Honestly I had to say that I liked this side to him much more than him acting all high born.

Later some elves started to play music and some couples started dancing a little but mostly there were conversations all throughout the room. At one point, I blamed it on the wine, Pippin started singing some songs from the Shire which everyone seemed to enjoy.

"My Lady, do you know some songs?" I looked at Merry who blushed a deep red.

"I don't know if any of the songs I know are appropriate here." I tried to get out of this without having to sing. Even if I was quite capable of doing so, I often avoided it. When Pippin joined his cousin I had to give in before they started drawing even more attention to us than the bickering dwarves.

"Just this one song…

Here comes a barrow, rumbling down the lane
Some call him a thief, some said he was insane
Straining in the darkness, sleeping in the day
That's what they say

A lifeless body in a mothy robe
A worn-out hat and a perforated coat
Nobody's gonna miss him
Or gather at his grave
That's what they say

What's your name, vagabond?
Where have you been?
What's your aim, vagabond?
What have you seen?
Where do you come from?
And what do you strive?
Come, tell me about a vagabond's life

Ashes to ashes, the glow of thrombose
Leaves off society, he was one of those
Was living on others, put all of us to shame
That's what they say

He walked with a limp, but he had been around
From far east to west
With a north wind down south
He was branded and outlawed, it was time to repay
That's what they say

What's your name, vagabond?
Where have you been?
What's your aim, vagabond?
What have you seen?
Where do you come from?
And what do you strive?
Come, tell me about a vagabond's life

Don't call it murder, how can you dare
Turn around and leave, you shouldn't really care
All cases closed and pauper's grave
That's what they say

Rest in peace, vagabonds
Where have you been?
Rest in peace, vagabonds
What have you seen?
Where did you come from?
And what did you strive?
Come, tell me about a vagabond's life, yeah

Rest in peace, vagabonds
Where have you been?
Rest in peace, vagabonds
What have you seen?
Where did you come from?
And what did you strive?
The story of a vagabond's life

The story of a vagabond's life…"

When I opened my eyes again I was surprised that everyone was looking at me. The music had stopped and the whole room had fallen silent. I felt a little embarrassed, I hadn't really given it much thought what I wanted to sing for the first that came to mind had been one of my favourite Mono Inc songs.

"A sad song, still beautifully performed." Elrond had gotten out of his chair and bowed his head in my direction. Now other guest in the room followed suit in complimenting my singing. What took me by surprise the most was the oldest of the dwarves coming up to me. He took my hand in his and placed a soft kiss to it.

"I would have never thought it possible that any song would ever touch my heart as our own songs. But you, my lady… I wish I had the words to describe the feelings you just invoked in my old heart." I smiled at him and bowed my head.

"I must thank you for your kind words, master dwarf. If my singing brought you some joy that is more than I could have asked for." He beamed up at me before retreating towards his fellow kinsmen.

"May I have a word?" I turned around to find Glorfindel standing before me. With a nod I followed him out onto the balcony.

"It was a song from your world I assume."

"Yes, actually one of my favourites. A rather sad song but most songs I know and love are of a completely different nature and hardly appropriate for this world." I looked up at the moon that was shining bright and full tonight.

"I have something for you. It belonged to my sister and I think she would approve of my decision to give it to you as my parting gift." I turned towards him. He was holding up a beautiful silver necklace holding a single pale blue stone. Glorfindel motioned for me to turn around so he could put it around my neck.

"It is so beautiful. Thank you so much." I couldn't help the urge to throw my arms around his neck and after a second he pulled me close.

"Maybe you will think of me from time to time when you look at it." There was a sad smile playing along his lips and for the first time I was painfully aware of the fact that I was leaving not only Rivendell behind tomorrow but him as well.

"I could never forget you… You have been so kind to me from the second we met. There is no way I could ever repay you for what you did for me. Will I be seeing you ever again?" There was a sudden dull pain in my chest and I could feel the tears starting to spill. He gently brushed them away and put a soft kiss against the top of my head.

"I am sure we will one day, niphredil. Until that day you hold on to the necklace. Whenever evil draws near, the stone will light up. May it be of help to you and remind you that you have found friends in this world that would do everything in their power to hold you once more."


All credits for the song go to the band Mono Inc and their label Nuclear Blast. (song A vagabond's life)