Author's note: Thanks Dwen, Elenya, and galadrielwannabe for reviewing! I agree, what a man! Although Legolas is nice, too! I think I'll gain an all new appreciation of him once The Two Towers comes out in theaters. Hope this chapter doesn't confuse you all too much, and I hope you enjoy this cause I'm really going out on a limb here!

Elenya by Shelly

CHAPTER THIRTEEN


The next morning Galadriel sent for her as promised and led her south down through the trees past a stream towards a treeless lawn which she named as her garden. "I brought you here as I am unsure of what the results will be once the power of the last stone of your ring is released."

Lillisandra felt the first stirrings of fear. "I thought that you had done this before," she said. "Dairuin told me of Thalion who last wore the ring before me."

"Yes, but he had nowhere close to the amount of power that I sense from you. I merely wanted to keep you safe and unharmed."

That didn't help raise her confidence one bit, and she slipped the chain from over her head to place the ring on her finger. Galadriel stepped forward and covered the ring with her hand, reciting the same words that the others had and withdrawing it once she had finished. All seemed quiet around them as if the very world had stopped in anticipation of what was to happen.

Then a bright light flickered inside the last stone and soon grew to engulf Lillisandra utterly as the power of the four stones coursed through her only to suddenly wink out as its master collapsed to the ground seemingly in exhaustion. But she was far from it as she became aware that Dairuin had been right when he had said that the ring was sentient, and that sentience was sharing with her the last journey it had taken when Thalion had worn it. It looked upon its former bearer as a friend and had been sorrowed when he had died but was now overjoyed to see that it had a new friend and couldn't wait to show her everything.

She saw the tale unfold before her as if she was there riding behind Thalion although she wasn't able to see what her forefather had looked like. A great army of elves and men surrounded her as they marched towards the plain of Dagorlad where they met a great massing of the enemy and engaged them in battle for many months. There Elenya rejoiced to finally be allowed full use of its powers as it aided Thalion in his fight against the enemy as well as healing those that were wounded. Eventually the enemy retreated back into Mordor to Barad-dur, where the alliance followed and laid seige to it for seven years before Sauron himself finally appeared. But Thalion was killed in one of the skirmishes during those long years and all became black as the ring's power faded until it was needed again.

Then the ring flared again in joy as it realized that its new bearer held a great power within her, sending its light throughout every pore in her skin as it became familiar with its new master. Lillisandra became aware of an almost tangible touch that passed first over her skin with feather light caresses before delving deeper into her body and filling all her mind with its light, and the awareness shared in the pain of her broken heart as it tried to understand the concept of love.

She became disturbed at the amount of attention the awareness spent there and quickly shut herself off to the euphoria of light that swept through her, moaning as she realized that she was in control of herself once more. When she opened her eyes, she saw a female elf kneeling beside her that she knew wasn't Galadriel as the Lady stood some distance from her, her eyes wide in astonishment. The elf possessed an unearthly beauty that was almost dangerous to look upon with her ivory skin and silver hair, her eyes her most arresting feature as they shimmered like two clear amethysts, and Lillisandra knew that she was the sentience within the ring come alive.

"Elenya?" she whispered as she tried to sit up with the help of the being at her side, her touch very real and cool against her arm.

"I knew you'd recognize me," she smiled brightly then leaped upon Lillisandra to kiss her full on the lips and embrace her tightly. "Oh, what a master fate has brought me!" she cried aloud in joy.

It was rare for Galadriel to be so shocked that she was speechless and it took her some time to find her voice. "How can this be?" she asked. "Why didn't you appear when Thalion last wore you?"

Elenya jumped up and moved around behind her master to run her fingers through the fiery strands of her hair. "Thalion," she murmured almost dreamily. "He was a strong enough master, but held not near the amount of power Lilli does as thanks to her I was able to take a different form, although Lilli still bears the ring upon her."

Lillisandra looked and saw for herself that she had removed the ring from her finger and now held it in the palm of her hand.

Elenya held out her own hand and upon her slender fingers shone a ring fashioned from the four gems themselves. "I am bound to you for as long as you are alive, though whenever you wear the ring I will merge back into you. Even though I am essentially the power inside the ring, its true power can never be wielded by either of us by ourselves so I am powerless to do anything unless I am joined with you."

"But why have you taken the form of an elf?" Galadriel asked.

The elf smiled and rested her arms around Lillisandra's neck. "Try being confined to the form of a ring over thousands of years," she laughed. "I thought it was time for something different."

Lillisandra found it hard not to join in her laughter, and they sat together long after Galadriel left to inform her husband of the strange turn of events. "I must admit that this was totally unexpected as I was not told that something like this would happen."

Elenya smiled and Lillisandra saw that a hint of sadness touched upon her face. "There is much that I need to tell you, Lilli, and it may at times become a bit much to take but it needs to be told.

"Throughout the ages, there has always been a struggle between good and evil, the two forces that have been present since the beginning of time. At times they will choose to heavily influence those who prove to be most receiving of them. For example, during the First Age there was Morgoth who I am sure you have learned about, and after he was cast into the Void there arose Sauron during the Second Age who still torments all those of good nature. But while evil chooses a single one to give its power to, the spirit of good chooses to spread its power over many although the power comes in different forms. Good does not always choose to vanquish evil by dominating as evil has always done but instead fights it in small but even more effective ways through courage and strength of will and even love.

"When Sauron forged the One Ring he poured into it his evil will, and it was feared that with this dreadful power he could undo the balance which has existed to restrain one from overtaking the other. It was then that the spirit of good appeared to Celebrimbor and went into the making of the ring which you are destined to carry."

Lillisandra stared at her with eyes wide in astonishment. "You are the embodiment of the spirit of good?" she whispered.

Elenya smiled and slowly nodded her head. "I am."

The Princess of Silmarion rose and paced around as she tried to understand what she had just heard. "I can't believe this," she said then suddenly whirled on the unsuspecting elf. "Do you realize how much grief you have caused me?"

Elenya rose and approached her with hands held out in entreaty. "Lilli, please do not be angry with me!" she pleaded. "I know that you want to vent your anger and by all rights I am to blame, but the blame also lies on Sauron as well. Even if you had not an important part to play your life would still be filled with grief, perhaps even more than now."

Lillisandra sank to the ground as exhaustion claimed her, sensing Elenya coming behind her and embracing her. "I am sorry, my friend," Elenya whispered, laying her head on her back.

"Do not be," she answered, placing her hand on Elenya's. "I am weary and merely behaving like a child. Frodo carries a much worse burden than I and yet he bears it without complaint and does not rant and rave as I do."

"Nor has he had to let go of something that he held most dear to his heart," Elenya added.

Lillisandra knew of what she spoke, the pain of her heart returning at her words that had called up memories of her and Boromir. "Why did you choose to take elven form?" she asked instead to take the focus off her grief. "I am sure it was not because you were tired of being confined to the form of a ring for so long."

Elenya released her and came around to sit beside her. "No, it was not," she replied, smiling sheepishly. "There were a few reasons why I chose to do so. For myself I wished to see what the possessor of such power looked like that would wish me to be so alive."

"I wished you to be?" she asked, wondering why she was surprised when the day had been full of such revelations.

"Of course. I could not use your power in such a way without your consent."

Lillisandra sighed. "What other reasons are there?"

"I wanted to see what this man you love has that would lead you to risk all to be with him. You do realize that by continuing your relationship with him you are putting yourself in a great amount of danger? Sauron's ring has established that it can influence him, and it is aware that you carry its greatest enemy."

"Boromir would never hurt me physically," she defended him.

"Then why did you leave him? It was more than just his desire to take the ring back to his father, wasn't it?"

Lillisandra sat there struggling with the truth of her words. Maybe deep down she had been afraid that he might hurt her and that was what had driven her from him. Then another explanation occured to her. "Perhaps it was your own influence that broke us apart," she pointed out, looking away when Elenya didn't answer.

"I was doing what I thought would be best for you," she argued. "If you hadn't left when you did, the temptations of the ring would've been too much for him to fight."

"Still you persuaded me to give up the only thing that I could still call mine, the only thing that happened to me that wasn't supposed to since it seems that everything else has. I feel as if I am a puppet in some tragedy that has no ending only Boromir had no part in it so you drove him away." She laughed bitterly. "I think that from here I shall take control of my own destiny. I shall take Ardya to my father and forget my part in this battle and let Frodo destroy the ring."

"I sincerely hope that Frodo is able to destroy it for it would mean that you wouldn't need to face Sauron. You were not meant to be the only solution to the problem, only a second one if Frodo failed and Sauron regained the ring. The first war between Sauron and the Alliance was supposed to be the one to end it all, but Thalion was killed before his task was complete."

"But I thought that if the master of both rings was ever to fight one another the world would be destroyed."

"I don't know about that," she said with a faint hint of laughter. "But the earth itself would undergo some changes as it has in the past when the forces of good and evil have fought. Perhaps this is what is meant as some populated areas may be destroyed while new areas may surface."

Lillisandra rubbed her aching eyes. "Great. Another thing for me to worry about." Then she rose to her feet. "I think I shall get some rest now."

Elenya followed and caught Lillisandra by the shoulders. "Lilli, please," she pleaded. "I wish there was something I could say to ease your heart. I know it seems as if you have no control over your life, but you are too important to lose right now. After Sauron has been defeated then you can threaten your life to your heart's content."

She couldn't help but laugh and embrace Elenya warmly, letting her know without words that she was all right. Then she began the long walk back to her pavilion and to a short nap that would perhaps have her waking up in a better mood.

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This turn of events surprised me as I hadn't planned on this happening. Next chapter: Lilli is reunited with the Fellowship, but what will that mean for her and the two men in her life? Who will she choose? Thanks for reading and please review!