THE DAYSTAR
BY: GABRIELLA THE FAIR
Chapter 4
WHAT DOST THY HEART DESIRE?
"What was she like, how would you explain her?"
With a faraway smile, he looked up to the sky and answered, "She was the Daystar, lighting up the day during our darkest hour, warming the earth with her love."
"She is as clear as the moon, as fair as the sun, and as glorious as an army under one banner"
To most she was a loving friend, her fairness lighting up the world, no matter what the weather. To some a companion, and one a lover and dream. Yet, many feared her dignity in her footsteps, power in her stride, and authority in her eyes. This is her story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Raquel, are you awake?"
"Now I am", she said moodly, rolling over to get away from the voice.
"Get up, lazy, Father wishes to speak with you" Arwen gently nudged her. Moon and Sky licked her face.
"Tell him five more minutes" Raquel replied, half asleep.
"You are impossible, but, I'll tell him that, though he will not be happy with you" Arwen argued.
"Fine", Raquel said convinced, "I'll go, but please tell him to wait while I get ready."
Raquel finally got out of bed. While she was doing her hair, Arwen popped her head into the room.
"There is a dress in the other room for you, there is a banquet tonight"
"Why are we going?" Raquel asked, wincing as she pulled the brush through her hair.
"To celebrate Frodo's good health and something about some lords coming"
"How is Frodo?" Raquel asked, wondering how long she had slept.
"He is resting right now and is much better, also, while you were sleeping, Gandalf arrived."
"Really?" Raquel inquired, walking into the other room, "I must speak with him then"
"You will, for we are also invited to a Counsel, though I do not know the matters we are to discuss"
Arwen was sitting in a chair, Moon and Sky at her feet, holding a dress, "This is the dress you will wear, do you like it?"
It was a beautiful dress, with long, tight sleeves until the cuff, where they opened. Diamond embrodoriy went throughout the dress. Personally, though, Raquel would never say it, she would much rather wear her breeches and shirt, for they were more comfortable and durable.
"It's lovely, but I cannot stay to adimire it, Lord Elrond wishes to see me, and you dogs," she said pointing to the dogs as they got up to follow, "are staying here." The dogs lie back down on the ground.
Arwen chuckled and put the dress down, walking with Raquel into the hallway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So you have come, Frodo is just about to wake up"
"I heard he is better, Lord." Raquel said, bowing to Elrond.
"Yes, much since you have last been awake, here, follow me"
Raquel followed Elrond, again, to the other room where Frodo lie. There Gandalf sat, silent, by the side of the bed.
"Gandalf? There is someone here to see you" Elrond uttered softly.
"Huh, what is this.oh, my, you have grown quite a bit" Gandalf said, a smile overcoming the tiredness in his face.
"Gandalf!" Raquel ran over and hugged him fiercly.
"Please be kind to an old man and let me go, you have grown much stronger".
"Oh, I am very sorry", she said, releasing him, "how have you been, why are you back in Rivendell, is Frodo alright?"
Gandalf let out a merry laugh, "Slow down, I can only answer one question at a time, but alas, we must save this for some other time, for I think Lord Elrond brought you here to talk to him." At that Elrond nodded.
"If Gandalf will stay here and watch Frodo, I must talk to you." he said, his face grave. Gandalf nodded.
"Good, then come with me Gilwen, for we have much to discuss."
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Did Arwen tell you of the counsel which is to be held?"
"Yes, though she did know the matters of which we are to discuss" Raquel said, speaking to him plainly, for they were behind doors.
"Good, I do not want her to know yet, so please do not tell her."
"I won't." she hesitated, not sure whether to say Lord Elrond, or just Elrond. He noticed her hesitation.
"Please, here you can call me Elrond, for we are alone".
Raquel nodded. She was raised by Elrond, for her mother died when she was just but a child. Some whispered rumors even said that Elrond and Celebian had secretly adopted her, though that was only a rumor. She had always seemed apart of their family, learning all her healing from Elrond himself and always being close to Arwen. Some even said that she looked like Celebrian herself, before she left over the seas of course.
"Why did you leave Imladris with Arwen?" he asked, startling her out of her thoughts.
She hesitated, for she really did not know why for a second.
"You can tell me Gilwen, I am not here to punish you" he said gently.
"I guess, I wanted to feel free, to go on an adventure, to rid of my dress and my duties, to finally, in all my life be independent for once, and actually use what I have been taught." she whispered, though not feeling ashamed at all.
He stared at her for a long time, looking into her eyes, as if trying to see if she was being truthful.
After awhile he sighed deeply, and leaned forward in his chair, so they met eyelevel.
"Gilwen, please listen very carefully to what I am about to tell you, I trust you will." she met his gaze.
"You know the story of the Second Age, with the Last Alliance and the winning over The Nameless One. The battle for the one ring, the falilure of Men, and how Isildur had taken the ring for himself" he kept hi eyes fixed on on hers, she staring just as intently.
"Yes, you have told me the story many times, it was one of my favorties when I was young. Before Isildur claimed The Ring you took him to the Cracks of Doom, the very heart of Mount Doom. You told him to cast it away, but he refused, and therefore the downfall of Men. Isildur was killed and cast into a river."
Elrond shook his head at each of these, remembering each part like it was happening right now.
"Yes, tis it all true. There is one part I never told you though."
"What might that be, Elrond?" she asked, her eyes questioning.
"The Ring was never found." he said in a low voice.
"Why did you never tell me?"
"Well by then, you fell asleep" a half smile appeared on his face, "and I wanted to protect you until you were old enough to hear it, and now I see that you are."
"Well, what does any of this have to do with me?"
"Frodo has that one ring" he said hardly so Raquel could hear, "that is why he was tracked by the Nazgul."
"The Counsel," she breathed, "that is what is to be discussed at the Counsel."
Elrond nodded at her, his eyes solemn as he stared.
"Well, why are you telling me all this? What does any of this have to do with me?"
"Someone has to destroy the ring, a group I am thinking"
She stared at him blankly, trying to figure out what he was hinting at.
"I am asking you to represent my, our, household in this Gilwen"
"Why me Elrond? Why not Glorfindel, Elladan or Elrohir?, they would be much more capable." "Before I was not sure of your capabilities, but when I heard of your search, I changed my mind. Gilwen, I know that you can do this."
All of this raced into her mind, she could finally get out and be free, like she had always wanted to, but could she leave her home and walk willingly into danger? Right into the heart of it too, Mordor, the Black Land, where blackness and evil ruled.
"Gilwen," Elrond put a hand on her shoulder, "you do not need to answer now, go back to your chambers and think hard, very hard, about this journey, for I cannot assure you that you will come back alive" she looked up at him thoughtfully.
"Go, you need to get ready before the feast" he got up and lead her to the door, as he opened it, she spoke.
"Elrond, if you were faced with this decision, what would you do?"
For a second he hestitated, then he spoke, "Raquel, you have used this saying many times, "What dost thy heart desire?" now you will use it yourself, what does your heart desire?"
She walked out of the room speachless, but was interupted when Arwen ran to meet her. "Raquel, you must come, Frodo is waking up, where is Father?" she asked breathlessly.
She was too late, Raquel had already begun to run.
"In his chambers!" Raquel shouted behind her.
Running and turning for what seemed like forever and a day, she finally reached his room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Where am I?" Frodo asked drowsily, still half asleep.
"You are in the House of Elrond, and it is ten in the morning, on October the 24th, if you want to know." Gandalf said quietly, nodding to Raquel as she entered, staying behind so Frodo couldn't see her.
"Gandalf?" He asked now more awake.
"Yes, I'm here. And you're lucky to be here, too. A few more hours and you would have been beyond our aid, but you have some strength in you, dear hobbit." he looked at Frodo fondly. Elrond and Sam came into the room, Sam jumping to the side of the bed, and Elrond joined Raquel.
"Bless you, Frodo, you're awake!" Sam took his hand and kissed it.
"Sam has hardly left your side." Gandalf added.
"We were that worried about you, weren't we, Mr. Gandalf?"
Frodo got up, leaning on his pillows.
"Thanks to the skills of Master Elrond and Gilwen, you have begun to mend."
Elrond and Raquel walked forward so Frodo could see them.
"Welcome to Rivendell, Frodo Baggins." Elrond said.
"Yes, welcome." Raquel added, smiling at him warmly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The feast was held a little while after Frodo woke. To Raquel and Arwen, it was the same as usual, Elrond, by his custom, sat in his chair with Glorfindel on his left and Gandalf on his right. Arwen and Raquel sat in the middle of the table under a canopy, eating and talking softly to one another. To Arwen's dismay, Aragorn was not there. After the feast was music and storytelling in the Hall of Fire. In their own spot, Raquel and Arwen talked softly. "What did Father speak to you about?" Arwen did not look at her, nor did Raquel to her. "Nothing, he wanted to know why I went with you on the search." Arwen was not satisfied with Raquel's answer, but decided to try to talk later. They left not much later, to Raquel's silent joy, for she had much thinking yet to do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sry, I kinda didn' get to get to the counsel, I had to set things up for it so it'll go smoother. so how was it? As usual, Tell me! Next chapter, Legolas FINALLY comes into the story! also, Im lookin for more story borders, so if you have any good ones that you'll let me borrow, please tell me! Thanx for the first review Guinevere and Pencil Bob, and a special thanx to Elfie88, ur great! I really appreciate it!
Yours,
*~*~*Gabi*~*~*
Chapter 4
WHAT DOST THY HEART DESIRE?
"What was she like, how would you explain her?"
With a faraway smile, he looked up to the sky and answered, "She was the Daystar, lighting up the day during our darkest hour, warming the earth with her love."
"She is as clear as the moon, as fair as the sun, and as glorious as an army under one banner"
To most she was a loving friend, her fairness lighting up the world, no matter what the weather. To some a companion, and one a lover and dream. Yet, many feared her dignity in her footsteps, power in her stride, and authority in her eyes. This is her story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Raquel, are you awake?"
"Now I am", she said moodly, rolling over to get away from the voice.
"Get up, lazy, Father wishes to speak with you" Arwen gently nudged her. Moon and Sky licked her face.
"Tell him five more minutes" Raquel replied, half asleep.
"You are impossible, but, I'll tell him that, though he will not be happy with you" Arwen argued.
"Fine", Raquel said convinced, "I'll go, but please tell him to wait while I get ready."
Raquel finally got out of bed. While she was doing her hair, Arwen popped her head into the room.
"There is a dress in the other room for you, there is a banquet tonight"
"Why are we going?" Raquel asked, wincing as she pulled the brush through her hair.
"To celebrate Frodo's good health and something about some lords coming"
"How is Frodo?" Raquel asked, wondering how long she had slept.
"He is resting right now and is much better, also, while you were sleeping, Gandalf arrived."
"Really?" Raquel inquired, walking into the other room, "I must speak with him then"
"You will, for we are also invited to a Counsel, though I do not know the matters we are to discuss"
Arwen was sitting in a chair, Moon and Sky at her feet, holding a dress, "This is the dress you will wear, do you like it?"
It was a beautiful dress, with long, tight sleeves until the cuff, where they opened. Diamond embrodoriy went throughout the dress. Personally, though, Raquel would never say it, she would much rather wear her breeches and shirt, for they were more comfortable and durable.
"It's lovely, but I cannot stay to adimire it, Lord Elrond wishes to see me, and you dogs," she said pointing to the dogs as they got up to follow, "are staying here." The dogs lie back down on the ground.
Arwen chuckled and put the dress down, walking with Raquel into the hallway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So you have come, Frodo is just about to wake up"
"I heard he is better, Lord." Raquel said, bowing to Elrond.
"Yes, much since you have last been awake, here, follow me"
Raquel followed Elrond, again, to the other room where Frodo lie. There Gandalf sat, silent, by the side of the bed.
"Gandalf? There is someone here to see you" Elrond uttered softly.
"Huh, what is this.oh, my, you have grown quite a bit" Gandalf said, a smile overcoming the tiredness in his face.
"Gandalf!" Raquel ran over and hugged him fiercly.
"Please be kind to an old man and let me go, you have grown much stronger".
"Oh, I am very sorry", she said, releasing him, "how have you been, why are you back in Rivendell, is Frodo alright?"
Gandalf let out a merry laugh, "Slow down, I can only answer one question at a time, but alas, we must save this for some other time, for I think Lord Elrond brought you here to talk to him." At that Elrond nodded.
"If Gandalf will stay here and watch Frodo, I must talk to you." he said, his face grave. Gandalf nodded.
"Good, then come with me Gilwen, for we have much to discuss."
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Did Arwen tell you of the counsel which is to be held?"
"Yes, though she did know the matters of which we are to discuss" Raquel said, speaking to him plainly, for they were behind doors.
"Good, I do not want her to know yet, so please do not tell her."
"I won't." she hesitated, not sure whether to say Lord Elrond, or just Elrond. He noticed her hesitation.
"Please, here you can call me Elrond, for we are alone".
Raquel nodded. She was raised by Elrond, for her mother died when she was just but a child. Some whispered rumors even said that Elrond and Celebian had secretly adopted her, though that was only a rumor. She had always seemed apart of their family, learning all her healing from Elrond himself and always being close to Arwen. Some even said that she looked like Celebrian herself, before she left over the seas of course.
"Why did you leave Imladris with Arwen?" he asked, startling her out of her thoughts.
She hesitated, for she really did not know why for a second.
"You can tell me Gilwen, I am not here to punish you" he said gently.
"I guess, I wanted to feel free, to go on an adventure, to rid of my dress and my duties, to finally, in all my life be independent for once, and actually use what I have been taught." she whispered, though not feeling ashamed at all.
He stared at her for a long time, looking into her eyes, as if trying to see if she was being truthful.
After awhile he sighed deeply, and leaned forward in his chair, so they met eyelevel.
"Gilwen, please listen very carefully to what I am about to tell you, I trust you will." she met his gaze.
"You know the story of the Second Age, with the Last Alliance and the winning over The Nameless One. The battle for the one ring, the falilure of Men, and how Isildur had taken the ring for himself" he kept hi eyes fixed on on hers, she staring just as intently.
"Yes, you have told me the story many times, it was one of my favorties when I was young. Before Isildur claimed The Ring you took him to the Cracks of Doom, the very heart of Mount Doom. You told him to cast it away, but he refused, and therefore the downfall of Men. Isildur was killed and cast into a river."
Elrond shook his head at each of these, remembering each part like it was happening right now.
"Yes, tis it all true. There is one part I never told you though."
"What might that be, Elrond?" she asked, her eyes questioning.
"The Ring was never found." he said in a low voice.
"Why did you never tell me?"
"Well by then, you fell asleep" a half smile appeared on his face, "and I wanted to protect you until you were old enough to hear it, and now I see that you are."
"Well, what does any of this have to do with me?"
"Frodo has that one ring" he said hardly so Raquel could hear, "that is why he was tracked by the Nazgul."
"The Counsel," she breathed, "that is what is to be discussed at the Counsel."
Elrond nodded at her, his eyes solemn as he stared.
"Well, why are you telling me all this? What does any of this have to do with me?"
"Someone has to destroy the ring, a group I am thinking"
She stared at him blankly, trying to figure out what he was hinting at.
"I am asking you to represent my, our, household in this Gilwen"
"Why me Elrond? Why not Glorfindel, Elladan or Elrohir?, they would be much more capable." "Before I was not sure of your capabilities, but when I heard of your search, I changed my mind. Gilwen, I know that you can do this."
All of this raced into her mind, she could finally get out and be free, like she had always wanted to, but could she leave her home and walk willingly into danger? Right into the heart of it too, Mordor, the Black Land, where blackness and evil ruled.
"Gilwen," Elrond put a hand on her shoulder, "you do not need to answer now, go back to your chambers and think hard, very hard, about this journey, for I cannot assure you that you will come back alive" she looked up at him thoughtfully.
"Go, you need to get ready before the feast" he got up and lead her to the door, as he opened it, she spoke.
"Elrond, if you were faced with this decision, what would you do?"
For a second he hestitated, then he spoke, "Raquel, you have used this saying many times, "What dost thy heart desire?" now you will use it yourself, what does your heart desire?"
She walked out of the room speachless, but was interupted when Arwen ran to meet her. "Raquel, you must come, Frodo is waking up, where is Father?" she asked breathlessly.
She was too late, Raquel had already begun to run.
"In his chambers!" Raquel shouted behind her.
Running and turning for what seemed like forever and a day, she finally reached his room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Where am I?" Frodo asked drowsily, still half asleep.
"You are in the House of Elrond, and it is ten in the morning, on October the 24th, if you want to know." Gandalf said quietly, nodding to Raquel as she entered, staying behind so Frodo couldn't see her.
"Gandalf?" He asked now more awake.
"Yes, I'm here. And you're lucky to be here, too. A few more hours and you would have been beyond our aid, but you have some strength in you, dear hobbit." he looked at Frodo fondly. Elrond and Sam came into the room, Sam jumping to the side of the bed, and Elrond joined Raquel.
"Bless you, Frodo, you're awake!" Sam took his hand and kissed it.
"Sam has hardly left your side." Gandalf added.
"We were that worried about you, weren't we, Mr. Gandalf?"
Frodo got up, leaning on his pillows.
"Thanks to the skills of Master Elrond and Gilwen, you have begun to mend."
Elrond and Raquel walked forward so Frodo could see them.
"Welcome to Rivendell, Frodo Baggins." Elrond said.
"Yes, welcome." Raquel added, smiling at him warmly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The feast was held a little while after Frodo woke. To Raquel and Arwen, it was the same as usual, Elrond, by his custom, sat in his chair with Glorfindel on his left and Gandalf on his right. Arwen and Raquel sat in the middle of the table under a canopy, eating and talking softly to one another. To Arwen's dismay, Aragorn was not there. After the feast was music and storytelling in the Hall of Fire. In their own spot, Raquel and Arwen talked softly. "What did Father speak to you about?" Arwen did not look at her, nor did Raquel to her. "Nothing, he wanted to know why I went with you on the search." Arwen was not satisfied with Raquel's answer, but decided to try to talk later. They left not much later, to Raquel's silent joy, for she had much thinking yet to do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sry, I kinda didn' get to get to the counsel, I had to set things up for it so it'll go smoother. so how was it? As usual, Tell me! Next chapter, Legolas FINALLY comes into the story! also, Im lookin for more story borders, so if you have any good ones that you'll let me borrow, please tell me! Thanx for the first review Guinevere and Pencil Bob, and a special thanx to Elfie88, ur great! I really appreciate it!
Yours,
*~*~*Gabi*~*~*