* One *
Ryanna watched the coast, while the silver anchor was cast into the dark blue water of the gulf. She had a deep frown on her forehead. Something was troubling her; it had been troubling her for days now. She could sense the Dark Shadow even before she laid eyes upon the shores of Middle-Earth.
Something was threatening that once peaceful land. She could feel the Evil drawing near while the boat got closer and closer to the line of the coast. Her mother hadn't mentioned anything out of the ordinary upon her departure from Aman. And she knew her mother well enough to know that her misinformation wasn't due to a lack of knowledge. Her mother had a keen sense for these dark issues…She had simply decided not to warn her about the danger. Another test? Ryanna thought, keeping her eyes on the shore ahead.
"I see no one's waiting for us." Lord Menel pointed out, stepping closer to where Ryanna stood watching. "I wonder what happened? There should be at least one of Lord Elrond's lackey waiting for us at the riverbank. This is outrageous!" He said in a very conceited tone making Ryanna snicker with disdain. She still didn't believe her mother had sent that self-assured snobbish noodle along with her to Imladris! How could her mother do such a terrible thing to her poor nerves?
"They are not expecting us, Lord Menel." Ryanna informed, crossing her arms over her chest and gazing over to the noble Elf.
"What do you mean not expecting us?" His voice raised to an acute tone making Ryanna shiver in response. "We travelled through the Great Seas to meet Lord Elrond and he doesn't even know we are here?"
"Mother thought it would be prudent not to inform him. She feared Lord Elrond wouldn't even meet us if we warned him in advance."
"Are you implying that we're not to stay at Lord Elrond's place while we are here? If he's not expecting us it will be incredibly rude of us to impose our presence on him." Ryanna just rolled her eyes, hiding her obvious annoyance as best as she could.
"And where are we supposed to stay if not in Lord Elrond's home? Anywhere else would not be fitting." Lord Menel went on and Ryanna had to restrain herself before she threw him over board.
"You seem reluctant Lord Menel. Maybe you should wait here for my return." Then she added, not able to control her witty tongue. "I'm sure the boat suits even your polished tastes." She said through grounded teeth. How could anyone be so shallow?
"Indeed it is a beautiful boat and I would be more than satisfied to stay here." For a moment the sun seemed to shine brightly in the sky, or so Ryanna thought after hearing those wonderful words. "But I couldn't possible let you wonder off alone." This second part made her smile falter and finally vanish completely from her face. "It's too dangerous and the land is too untamed to let such fine beings like you or me to walk alone upon those forests. Your mother would never forgive me if any harm would come to you." Lord Menel rose his chin as only the snobbish could rise it. Ryanna was sure she had heard herself roar deep inside of her throat.
"It's not like Elves haven't lived here before." She muttered under her breath, knowing perfectly well that Lord Menel would catch on to her every word. "We lived here for three Ages and we seemed to get along with the roughness of the land just fine."
"We certainly did not live here. We are Higher-Elves!" Lord Menel stated back in his high-pitched tone. "Your mother's spirit would leave her lifeless if she heard you paring our race to those that stayed behind!*
"My mother never made a distinction between races, Lord Menel. At her eyes we are all Elves." She bit back sharply.
"Too bad you weren't born fifteen thousand years ago, your Highness." Lord Menel gushed with a wicked smile. "Your mother was one of the first to banish Elves from Aman because she considered them lesser creatures." He could see that the young princess was about to explode. Maybe he had gone a little too far with his remarks, but nevertheless they were all true.
"As you've said, that happened fifteen thousand years ago. A long time passed since then and a lot of things have changed. I'm sure mother regrets her actions, otherwise she wouldn't have accepted and even encourage the returning of the Elvish people to the Undying Lands." Ryanna was incredibly fast with her thinking and all Lord Menel could do in return was smile a cold smile of resignation.
"Of course." He bowed his head, letting the argument die. "Where exactly are we now?" He asked a moment later.
"By my calculations we are near Mithland** or what is left of it. There's one of the Three Towers." Ryanna pointed to what should have been a control tower, but was now nothing but old wreckage piled, giving the impression of a tower.
"Right." Lord Menel said with a displeased expression. "And then we will travel along the great East Road and if everything goes as planned we will arrive at Imladris at the break of dawn of the eighth day. Of course that then Lord Elrond will refuse to meet us and we will have to travel all the way back through this forsaken land, carrying home the bitter taste of failure." Ryanna looked at Lord Menel bluntly, uncertain what to do or say next. She knew that what Lord Menel said would probably happen. They could be sent back by Lord Elrond, but she was determined to do everything to be heard by the Master Elf.
"Actually Lord Menel, we will not travel through the East Road. I think it would be prudent if we avoid the road for the time being." Lord Menel faced Ryanna with what could only be described as a mixed expression of pure shock and terror. "It will be better if our presence here go unnoticed."
"But if we cross-country we will take longer to get to Imladris! And then we will be so dirty and looking like two lost dwarves that Lord Elrond won't even glance at us twice!" The noble Elf was turning red as his fury took over him.
"We are a bit too tall to be mistaken by two lost dwarves." Ryanna bit back through grounded teeth.
"Still, I'm opposing to the idea of travelling through the fields. Nobility should travel in style and not like two common criminals."
"I'm sorry Lord Menel, but I have already made my mind. We will stay away from the road for as long as we can. Either you accept that or you can stay behind with the boat." She uttered firmly, her deep blue eyes glittering like the gulf water. Lord Menel made a huffing sound like a mouse trapped under the cat's claws, but protested no longer. Ryanna wanted to smile victorious, but thought better of it. "We will also travel light. Take only what you think is of most necessity." She shuddered internally, thinking of all the little futility Lord Menel would surely carry along with him, like golden combs and mirrors. Why, in the name of everything that was holy, had her mother sent that fool along wit her? She had an idea though: to punish her for every bad word and wrongful behaviour of the last two thousand years of her existence.
Legolas stepped hard against the marbled floor of the Halls of Rivendell. His footsteps though didn't resound. He was returning from a five days journey along the borders of Rhudaur. He had been sent by Lord Elrond to seek news of what was happening over Middle-Earth, which cities had fallen into the Shadow and which remained standing.
The barbarians, as they were often called, were spreading fast through the Earth and, although the Elvish people were doing everything that they could to stop the wave of destruction and death from spreading even further, their efforts were turning out to be fruitless. Middle-Earth was on the brink of falling completely in a Dark Age, unless something happened that they hadn't foreseen…a miracle perhaps.
Legolas had returned from the Undying Lands upon the call of his old time friend, Lord Elrond. He had travelled the Great Seas for hundreds of years, his eyes seeing wonders he had only imagined in dreams. After many years, his passion for the sea started to fade away and he soon felt the urge to return to Middle-Earth. Something was disturbing the peace they had fought for, thousands of years before. The free people of Middle-Earth were falling deep into a dark nightmare. And there was no one left that could help them. That was why he had left the peaceful lands of Aman and had joined Lord Elrond and the remaining Elves in Rivendell. They were the last protectors of that land.
"Welcome back Legolas." Lord Elrond greeted as soon as the Elvish prince entered the room. Looking at Legolas, Lord Elrond had the impression that the still young prince carried the weight of the world on his back and he feared the worse. "How was your journey?"
"It went well, but I fear I bring you no good news." The prince said, looking hopeless and tired.
"Tell me then friend, how far have the barbarians reached? Which lands have they conquered now?"
"They have reached as far as the Misty Mountains. The Rohan has fallen completely into the Shadow and there is nothing we could do to stop them. In a matter of months they will be here and Eriador will soon follow Rohan." Lord Elrond took a moment to gather his thoughts. Indeed those were bad news.
"I fear we're witnessing the end of Middle-Earth as we know it." He said in a silent tone, his eyes though betrayed his calm façade.
"We could send messengers to the Dwarf Lords, asking for they help. I'm sure once they understand how bad the situation really is they will agree to fight at our side." Legolas said, but even he had doubts. Messengers had already been sent to the mountains and the answer had been the same every time: silence. The dwarves cared for nothing and no one but themselves and as long as they could dig up countless riches they would not abandon their mountains, not even for the freedom of Middle-Earth.
"No Legolas. The Shadow has come too far now. There's nothing we could do but watch in horrifying silence as the barbarians destroy everything at their passage." Lord Elrond stated with sadness.
"I refuse to let these beast take over what does not belong to them!" Legolas snapped a bit more angrily then what he intended. "If we could assemble an army I'm sure we could defeat them. For what I heard, they aren't very smart, they're more like animals than anything else! Even Orcs were smarter then them."
"But they are too many. We would be crushed like ants." Lord Elrond opposed. "And where would we find such an army? We Elves are too few, the Hobbits are too small and men…" Lord Elrond hesitated, flinching slightly at the sudden painful memories. Those beasts had killed all his human friends; the kings and queens of the race of men were the first to be slaughter. "Men are dead or have been taken as slaves. There are no one left to fight this war Legolas."
"Never did I imagine to hear such defeat in your voice, Lord Elrond." A voice echoed through the room and both Elves turned to greet the visitor standing at the door.
"Never did the situation look so helpless, Gandalf." Lord Elrond replied in the same dreary tone.
"It's good to see you again Gandalf." Legolas greeted as the wizard approached the duo. "I'm glad that you have finally arrive. I was beginning to wonder what evil had come over you."
"It's good to see you too and I'm sorry if I took so long. Although I have to admit that I wish I were hear under more pleasant circumstances." Gandalf hadn't aged a day, but his eyes reflected wisdom possessed by only a handful of beings.
"What did the Valar decide about this urgent matter? Are they going to help us or are they going to hide in their perfect land and stand aside, watching while the Darkness consumes all Middle-Earth?" It was common knowledge that Lord Elrond didn't praise the Valar or their actions.
"I'm afraid we're on our own, Lord Elrond." Gandalf stated with sorrow, but Lord Elrond just snickered.
"Nothing has changed then." He said sarcastically. "I should have known that the Higher-Elves wouldn't want to get their hands dirty. And why should they? Their land is perfect, why bother save Middle-Earth, a place that gave them so much?" He was bitter now and Legolas and Gandalf exchanged worried looks.
"Not all Higher-Elves agree with the Valar." Gandalf said, but Lord Elrond glanced at him doubtful.
"No? Where are they then? I don't believe you brought them with you so that means that they stayed at Aman. Indeed, they are brave Elves." Legolas spit with venom. He too didn't praise the Valar decisions and he had seen with his own eyes how shallow and conceited the Higher Elves could be.
"It's true. None wanted to leave Aman, although they agreed that Middle-Earth was worth saving. My arguments were all refuted by the Valar."
"Then your mission was unavailing!" Lord Elrond stated angrily, throwing his arms in the air with frustration.
"Not quite, old friend." Gandalf said in an amused tone.
"What do you mean?" Legolas questioned, seeing the sparkle of victory dancing in the old wizard's eyes.
"Elbereth Gilthoniel protested against the Valar's decision of not interfering. Her protests were dismissed though, for most High Elves agreed with the resolves of the Valar. Even Lady Galadriel has turned her back on Middle-Earth." This last part was added on a sorrowful note. "But the queen has sent help, going against the Valar's decrees."
"You mean that she sent an army to help us free Middle-Earth? Where is it? How long will it take to get here?" Legolas questioned, feeling hopeful all of a sudden.
"Calm down Legolas. No army was sent to help us. She promised me she would send help, although I have no idea to what sort of help she was referring to. We must wait and see…" Gandalf was cut by Legolas furious voice.
"Wait? We don't have much time left and we still must wait for some help to arrive? I believe that if we wait much longer, by the time this help reach us, there won't be anything of Middle-Earth left worth fighting for!"
"Nevertheless, all we can do at this time is wait." Gandalf informed, trying to calm down his friend.
"Do you trust Elbereth's word, Gandalf?" Elrond asked with an uncertain look.
"She is the most powerful queen of the Valar, loved by all Elves. I believe that she will do anything to help us save Middle-Earth."
"You still didn't answer my question." Lord Elrond replied looking straight into the wizard's eyes.
"Only time will tell. I can only hope she meant what she promised me."
"But time, now that's a precious thing on these dark times." Legolas stated and both Gandalf and Elrond sighed. The three friends stood there, watching the sun setting on the west, each lost in their own thoughts. What would happen if help never came? Middle-Earth would fall into darkness, destroyed by beast from the South and all that they once cherished would be lost…forever.
Ok, I hope you liked it! Please review!
Notes:
*The Elves that stayed behind were the Silvan Elves (like King Thranduil and Elves of Northern Mirkwood and Lorien); they strayed away from the Great Journey (journey of the Eldar --see 'the Silmarillion'-- to Valinor from Guivienan across ME and the Great Sea to Aman, to be with the Valar); they chose to dwell in ME around 3 ages before the rising of the Moon. They have Teleri origin.
**The same as Grey Heavens.