THE DAYSTAR
BY: GABRIELLA THE FAIR
Chapter 23
"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.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` `````````````````````````````````````````
She turned away, closing her eyes. When she turned back, he could only see authority in her eyes. "I am Gilwen Menelanna, Second daughter of Elrond, sister to Arwen, Elladan and Elrohir, heir to the throne of Lothlórien." she said softly, staring him in the eyes. He was silent. She closed her eyes and slid onto her knees.
"Raquel." Legolas went to her, "Why is this a secret? How.?" he looked at her, "Who knows of this?"
"Legolas, I will explain, it is a long story. Come, I do not want anyone to hear." she grabbed his wrist and led him through the woods for some time until they came to a clearing.
"Sit here." she practically had to sit him down on a fallen tree. He stared at her with wide eyes.
"Explain" he sputtered.
She took a deep breath and sat next to him, "Long ago, when only Arwen was but a baby, Elrond had a servant. She went to bed one night and had a dream, in the dream a goddess told her she was going to have a child. The child was to be of Royal descent, they specified that as Elrond's house. She was to protect and raise the child as her own, but hand her over to Elrond when she was old enough to live on her own. She was never to tell anyone, or it be her death." Raquel stopped and took another slow breath, though it was shaky. "She broke that though and she told Elrond. The Orcs came and killed her two nights later."
"So this was your mother?" Legolas asked.
"Yes, it was, and I was the child. My mother also said that the goddess told her I was to overcome some great evil, to do some great deed. Now all is clear, I must fight Sauron with all my strength."
"But why was it kept a secret, why did he not tell everyone?" Legolas asked.
"Think Legolas, a child was called his by the gods, he believed it, but some people would not. They would think he had a secret affair with my mother, and Celebrian was still here. Nobody would think of him as wise anymore, he would lose everything he had ever gained and be.nothing." she again sighed.
"But why Raquel? You deserve to live your title, not a low class servant!"
She jumped up, "Maybe, you would think before you say that again Legolas!" her eyes blazed, "Maybe I do not mind being a servant. Or better yet, maybe I do not care!" she yelled. He was quiet.
"Raquel, I am sorry, I just always thought that servants wished to be kings and queens. I understand, and I am truly sorry, but you deserve to be just like Arwen. Tell me, when you were little did you wish to be her?"
"And you tell me, when you were little, did you not wish to be me?" she said back to him. "I know what a royal life is Legolas, I lived one with Arwen. Everywhere she went, I went too. Maybe I did not live it, but I saw it in action." she sat back down.
"Who else knows of this?"
"Well Arwen, Elrond, Celebrian, Celeborn, Galadriel, and Aragorn."
"Aragorn?"
"When we were little, he told me of his secret, and I told him mine. When I was not around Arwen, I was with him. We were like brother and sister. I could never ask for a better one." she bent her head and smiled sweetly.
"How did you become the heir of Lorien then?"
"Elrond told them long ago, when Celebrian went over the Sea. I came here with Arwen all the time, and fell in love with these woods. They had no heir, with Celebrian gone. Elladan and Elrohir were to heir Rivendell."
"What about Arwen?"
"She did not take an interest in the woods like I did. She loved them, but I lived in the woods." (AN- she is one with the woods lol)
"So that is how you know Haldir?"
"Yes, he took me in and taught me everything he knew about the woods, tracking and archery. He is a dear friend, one of the best I know."
"He is also like a brother to you." Legolas commented softly.
"Yes, if not more." she sighed and smiled, "Well, now you know."
"Does it feel good to finally tell someone?" he turned to her and grinned.
"Yes, I feel like I have been lying to you this whole time." She looked to the sky, the stars were appearing, "We must leave, come, I am sure our companions are waiting." She got up, but he grabbed her arm.
"Tell me, was it truthfully hard to say this?" he asked.
"No, it was not, once I started, I could not stop." she smiled, "Should I tell everyone else?"
"Yes, I think Pippin would love to hear it. Then he could say he was right to call you Lady Raquel." he said and they both laughed.
"Thank you Legolas, I needed to say that." she smiled, "And for listening, I also needed that." she bowed her head. He stood up.
"I should thank you, you finally told me." he sighed, "I cannot believe it, you are Elrond's other daughter."
"Legolas.that is the reason I did not want to tell you, please, I am the same person." she sighed, "I am still Raquel."
"I know, and I am sorry, come we should leave and then you can tell the rest of the Company." he grabbed her hand and lead her back to a path and pulled her all the way back, laughing as he did so.
"Legolas wait." she stopped, panting. She felt dizzy and sick, though she managed to stand.
"O Raquel I am so sorry, I forgot you had just recovered!" He came over to her and grabbed her shoulders and stared at her eyes until she focused in on him, "You are amazing, Raquel, absolutely amazing." he kissed her softly and let go, leaving her in even more of a daze.
"What was that for?" she asked.
"It all is making sense now, everything." He sighed, "How could my life get even more interesting?"
"I could make that happen." she reached over and kissed him lightly, letting go only to catch her balance.
"Raquel." he started, but she put a finger to his lips.
"No, do not say a word." she moved her hand to his cheek, "You have blessed me in so many ways and given me so many chances. Why Legolas? I do not deserve this!" she said.
"I am not sure, but I am happy I did." "You also gave me many chances, but we will talk of this later, the night grows late and the Company awaits your decision."
Raquel looked up and noticed that the stars were appearing, "You are right, come on, lwts walk the rest of the way back."
They walked but did not speak, for they felt no need. They came through the gates and walked through the city. Finally they reached the pavilion the Company had been staying in. Everyone there was been setting up for bed.
"Everyone, Raquel has some things to say."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She looked at each of them, stopping at Pippin though.
"I will be coming with the Fellowship, I am not staying in Lorien." she smiled at pIppin, and he did the same, "Though, I must warn you, traveling with me is dangerous. Sauron will seek me, and at all cost, kill me and whoever is with me."
Everyone was silent, but Aragorn came to her side, "Never will he touch such a beautiful maiden, at least while I can still fight."
"I may not know how to fight, but if I did, I would kill him and any that hurt you, Lady Raquel." Pippin got up and went to her other side.
"I said all was fair in love and war, though this one he does not even have a chance." Legolas put a hand on her shoulder, "You shall always have my bow, whenever at need."
"And I could never have asked for better companions." Raquel said, "but now we must talk of what we are to do next."
The Fellowship sat and thought quietly. Aragorn nodded, "We must leave and soon, the Dark Lord is going to come for the Wood."
Raquel looked at everyone on the mention of the Dark Lord and the Ring. Frodo's once bright eyes were dimmed and weary.
"Go and sleep, I will talk to the Lord and Lady and see what they think we should do, they will give us some guidance." she turned and started to leave, not waiting for an objection.
"But, Raquel, wait!" Frodo said, she stopped, "Legolas' said, 'things' what else is there?"
She took a deep breath and turned around, "I have been hiding something from all of you, I am not the person you think I am."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She told them everything, everything she told Legolas and maybe more. They sat, stood or just watched her in amazement.
"You.?" Boromir said, "You are Elrond's other daughter? It can't be! She is lying, or has been lying to us this whole time!" he pointed a finger at her.
"Boromir, please, leave her be." Aragorn said from behind, "If you have any questions, ask me." he turned to Raquel and spoke in Elvish, "Go speak to the Lord and Lady, I will talk to you tomorrow morn." she again turned but Pippin came up beside her.
"I was right to call you Lady then, and I hope you don't mind if I keep calling you that." he smiled up at her and then bowed, he bowed at her feet, taking her hand and kissing it. She knelt down next to him and started speaking in Elvish.
"What is she saying?" Sam asked Frodo.
"She is blessing him." Legolas said, watching both of them in wonder.
She got up and turned around, and Merry stepped forward, "Pippin is right, you deserve everything you've ever earned, Lady" he bowed and Raquel did the same to him, getting up after a couple of minutes. As she walked down the row of her companions each bowed low, and she blessed them with her words. She finally came to Boromir.
"You do not have to bow and I will not bless you if you do not wish, you owe me nothing, as do none here." she said, looking deep into his eyes. After a few moments he started to shake under her glance, she turned, leaving this time without any interruption.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What do Celeborn and Galadriel say?"
"We should go by boat, on the Anduin, we shall start tomorrow afternoon." Raquel and Aragorn sat talking the next morning.
"We should talk to the Fellowship before we make any decisions." Aragorn said, looking to Raquel.
She jumped up and said sternly, looking down to where Aragorn sat, "Aragorn, the longer we stay in these woods, the more people we put to risk. I will not let any of my people die for my sake. We will leave tomorrow, it is folly to stay even a day longer."
"If this is the will of the Lady of the Wood, then so be it." Aragorn said, getting up and leaving.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
hey, this is really bad guys! I was workin on like a whole bunch of chapters the other night and they got erased. I was up to like the end of chapter 25, im trying to get ahead so when school starts ill be fine, and I went to bed, and the next morning they got erased, including this one, so I head to rewrite it. it may be awhile before I post more, so please be patient! anywho, how was my rewritten 23? I thought it came out pretty good. next chapter, the giving of the gifts of the lady and lord. I gtg and work, or ill never get all this stuff back! cya- have a better day than I am!
*~*~*Gabi*~*~*
"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.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` `````````````````````````````````````````
She turned away, closing her eyes. When she turned back, he could only see authority in her eyes. "I am Gilwen Menelanna, Second daughter of Elrond, sister to Arwen, Elladan and Elrohir, heir to the throne of Lothlórien." she said softly, staring him in the eyes. He was silent. She closed her eyes and slid onto her knees.
"Raquel." Legolas went to her, "Why is this a secret? How.?" he looked at her, "Who knows of this?"
"Legolas, I will explain, it is a long story. Come, I do not want anyone to hear." she grabbed his wrist and led him through the woods for some time until they came to a clearing.
"Sit here." she practically had to sit him down on a fallen tree. He stared at her with wide eyes.
"Explain" he sputtered.
She took a deep breath and sat next to him, "Long ago, when only Arwen was but a baby, Elrond had a servant. She went to bed one night and had a dream, in the dream a goddess told her she was going to have a child. The child was to be of Royal descent, they specified that as Elrond's house. She was to protect and raise the child as her own, but hand her over to Elrond when she was old enough to live on her own. She was never to tell anyone, or it be her death." Raquel stopped and took another slow breath, though it was shaky. "She broke that though and she told Elrond. The Orcs came and killed her two nights later."
"So this was your mother?" Legolas asked.
"Yes, it was, and I was the child. My mother also said that the goddess told her I was to overcome some great evil, to do some great deed. Now all is clear, I must fight Sauron with all my strength."
"But why was it kept a secret, why did he not tell everyone?" Legolas asked.
"Think Legolas, a child was called his by the gods, he believed it, but some people would not. They would think he had a secret affair with my mother, and Celebrian was still here. Nobody would think of him as wise anymore, he would lose everything he had ever gained and be.nothing." she again sighed.
"But why Raquel? You deserve to live your title, not a low class servant!"
She jumped up, "Maybe, you would think before you say that again Legolas!" her eyes blazed, "Maybe I do not mind being a servant. Or better yet, maybe I do not care!" she yelled. He was quiet.
"Raquel, I am sorry, I just always thought that servants wished to be kings and queens. I understand, and I am truly sorry, but you deserve to be just like Arwen. Tell me, when you were little did you wish to be her?"
"And you tell me, when you were little, did you not wish to be me?" she said back to him. "I know what a royal life is Legolas, I lived one with Arwen. Everywhere she went, I went too. Maybe I did not live it, but I saw it in action." she sat back down.
"Who else knows of this?"
"Well Arwen, Elrond, Celebrian, Celeborn, Galadriel, and Aragorn."
"Aragorn?"
"When we were little, he told me of his secret, and I told him mine. When I was not around Arwen, I was with him. We were like brother and sister. I could never ask for a better one." she bent her head and smiled sweetly.
"How did you become the heir of Lorien then?"
"Elrond told them long ago, when Celebrian went over the Sea. I came here with Arwen all the time, and fell in love with these woods. They had no heir, with Celebrian gone. Elladan and Elrohir were to heir Rivendell."
"What about Arwen?"
"She did not take an interest in the woods like I did. She loved them, but I lived in the woods." (AN- she is one with the woods lol)
"So that is how you know Haldir?"
"Yes, he took me in and taught me everything he knew about the woods, tracking and archery. He is a dear friend, one of the best I know."
"He is also like a brother to you." Legolas commented softly.
"Yes, if not more." she sighed and smiled, "Well, now you know."
"Does it feel good to finally tell someone?" he turned to her and grinned.
"Yes, I feel like I have been lying to you this whole time." She looked to the sky, the stars were appearing, "We must leave, come, I am sure our companions are waiting." She got up, but he grabbed her arm.
"Tell me, was it truthfully hard to say this?" he asked.
"No, it was not, once I started, I could not stop." she smiled, "Should I tell everyone else?"
"Yes, I think Pippin would love to hear it. Then he could say he was right to call you Lady Raquel." he said and they both laughed.
"Thank you Legolas, I needed to say that." she smiled, "And for listening, I also needed that." she bowed her head. He stood up.
"I should thank you, you finally told me." he sighed, "I cannot believe it, you are Elrond's other daughter."
"Legolas.that is the reason I did not want to tell you, please, I am the same person." she sighed, "I am still Raquel."
"I know, and I am sorry, come we should leave and then you can tell the rest of the Company." he grabbed her hand and lead her back to a path and pulled her all the way back, laughing as he did so.
"Legolas wait." she stopped, panting. She felt dizzy and sick, though she managed to stand.
"O Raquel I am so sorry, I forgot you had just recovered!" He came over to her and grabbed her shoulders and stared at her eyes until she focused in on him, "You are amazing, Raquel, absolutely amazing." he kissed her softly and let go, leaving her in even more of a daze.
"What was that for?" she asked.
"It all is making sense now, everything." He sighed, "How could my life get even more interesting?"
"I could make that happen." she reached over and kissed him lightly, letting go only to catch her balance.
"Raquel." he started, but she put a finger to his lips.
"No, do not say a word." she moved her hand to his cheek, "You have blessed me in so many ways and given me so many chances. Why Legolas? I do not deserve this!" she said.
"I am not sure, but I am happy I did." "You also gave me many chances, but we will talk of this later, the night grows late and the Company awaits your decision."
Raquel looked up and noticed that the stars were appearing, "You are right, come on, lwts walk the rest of the way back."
They walked but did not speak, for they felt no need. They came through the gates and walked through the city. Finally they reached the pavilion the Company had been staying in. Everyone there was been setting up for bed.
"Everyone, Raquel has some things to say."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She looked at each of them, stopping at Pippin though.
"I will be coming with the Fellowship, I am not staying in Lorien." she smiled at pIppin, and he did the same, "Though, I must warn you, traveling with me is dangerous. Sauron will seek me, and at all cost, kill me and whoever is with me."
Everyone was silent, but Aragorn came to her side, "Never will he touch such a beautiful maiden, at least while I can still fight."
"I may not know how to fight, but if I did, I would kill him and any that hurt you, Lady Raquel." Pippin got up and went to her other side.
"I said all was fair in love and war, though this one he does not even have a chance." Legolas put a hand on her shoulder, "You shall always have my bow, whenever at need."
"And I could never have asked for better companions." Raquel said, "but now we must talk of what we are to do next."
The Fellowship sat and thought quietly. Aragorn nodded, "We must leave and soon, the Dark Lord is going to come for the Wood."
Raquel looked at everyone on the mention of the Dark Lord and the Ring. Frodo's once bright eyes were dimmed and weary.
"Go and sleep, I will talk to the Lord and Lady and see what they think we should do, they will give us some guidance." she turned and started to leave, not waiting for an objection.
"But, Raquel, wait!" Frodo said, she stopped, "Legolas' said, 'things' what else is there?"
She took a deep breath and turned around, "I have been hiding something from all of you, I am not the person you think I am."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She told them everything, everything she told Legolas and maybe more. They sat, stood or just watched her in amazement.
"You.?" Boromir said, "You are Elrond's other daughter? It can't be! She is lying, or has been lying to us this whole time!" he pointed a finger at her.
"Boromir, please, leave her be." Aragorn said from behind, "If you have any questions, ask me." he turned to Raquel and spoke in Elvish, "Go speak to the Lord and Lady, I will talk to you tomorrow morn." she again turned but Pippin came up beside her.
"I was right to call you Lady then, and I hope you don't mind if I keep calling you that." he smiled up at her and then bowed, he bowed at her feet, taking her hand and kissing it. She knelt down next to him and started speaking in Elvish.
"What is she saying?" Sam asked Frodo.
"She is blessing him." Legolas said, watching both of them in wonder.
She got up and turned around, and Merry stepped forward, "Pippin is right, you deserve everything you've ever earned, Lady" he bowed and Raquel did the same to him, getting up after a couple of minutes. As she walked down the row of her companions each bowed low, and she blessed them with her words. She finally came to Boromir.
"You do not have to bow and I will not bless you if you do not wish, you owe me nothing, as do none here." she said, looking deep into his eyes. After a few moments he started to shake under her glance, she turned, leaving this time without any interruption.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What do Celeborn and Galadriel say?"
"We should go by boat, on the Anduin, we shall start tomorrow afternoon." Raquel and Aragorn sat talking the next morning.
"We should talk to the Fellowship before we make any decisions." Aragorn said, looking to Raquel.
She jumped up and said sternly, looking down to where Aragorn sat, "Aragorn, the longer we stay in these woods, the more people we put to risk. I will not let any of my people die for my sake. We will leave tomorrow, it is folly to stay even a day longer."
"If this is the will of the Lady of the Wood, then so be it." Aragorn said, getting up and leaving.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
hey, this is really bad guys! I was workin on like a whole bunch of chapters the other night and they got erased. I was up to like the end of chapter 25, im trying to get ahead so when school starts ill be fine, and I went to bed, and the next morning they got erased, including this one, so I head to rewrite it. it may be awhile before I post more, so please be patient! anywho, how was my rewritten 23? I thought it came out pretty good. next chapter, the giving of the gifts of the lady and lord. I gtg and work, or ill never get all this stuff back! cya- have a better day than I am!
*~*~*Gabi*~*~*