Eli awoke to another beautiful morning in her room in Rivendell. The sunlight streamed through her partially open window, and brought some warmth to her room. Throwing the covers back, she shivered when the cool autumn air hit her body. Winter's coming soon… She smiled to herself. I've never seen snow before. I wonder what it's like?
She put on a robe that was laid out nearby, and walked over to the closet. She pulled it open, and revealed a marvelous array of dresses in different colors, styles, and textures of cloth. She scrutinized each one, and after a long while, selected a dress the color of a buttercup, with long sleeves and a golden sash for the waist. There was a matching pair of velvet slippers for this, so she took those as well.
After taking a moment to neatly fold everything, she took the bundle in her arms, and made her way towards the bathroom. Steam rose from the small pool in the center of the room, and the scent of hyacinth and crocuses swirled through the air.
Eli stripped off her nightclothes, and cautiously dipped her body into the water. It took a while for her to get used to the temperature of the water, but after a moment, she relaxed, and leaned back against the wall of the pool, letting her thoughts drift.
Exactly seven months and two weeks had passed since she first arrived in this strange place, which everyone here called Middle-Earth. And during those seven months, she did A LOT of things. First and foremost, she had to try and maintain the image that Elrond had woven for her: that she was a princess from a country far to the East. Of course, this was rather difficult for Eli, since she wasn't a princess in the first place, and she wasn't used to acting like one, either. But somehow, thanks to Arwen, she managed to keep up the act.
But when she wasn't trying to act like a princess, Eli had a lot of fun with Arwen, Elladan and Elrohir. It pleased them to know that she could ride a horse and shoot a bow, so they often invited her to go out on rides with them, or challenged her to a contest. Eli had laughed at them, and told them never to underestimate the skills of a woman. Arwen had wholeheartedly agreed to that.
But still, Eli didn't like talking about her home world much. The only one she talked in earnest with about the matter was Elrond, and even then, only when he asked her. And so far, she had only gone so far as to tell him that she had been trained in archery and horseback-riding since she was a little girl; that this was common enough in her world; and that she was skilled enough to protect herself.
Of course, one does not spend time with the Elves without learning something. And during this time, Eli learnt their language, and bits and pieces of their culture when she could. Luckily she was proficient with languages, and the soft singing pronunciation of Elvish attracted her and made her eager to learn it. In her mind, she had compared it to Italian and French, which were almost the same in that they sounded best when spoken softly and a little quickly.
She hauled herself out of the bath, and changed quickly into the clothes she had brought with her. Rubbing a towel through her hair, she walked out of the bathroom to find Imhiriel, an Elf-maiden whom Elrond assigned as her personal handmaiden, waiting for her by the dressing table, a brush and a few pins in her hand.
Imhiriel smiled as Eli approached. Though she was supposed to be her handmaiden, their relationship was more of friendship than that of a servant to a master. ^You are awake early, Eli. What dreams have caused you stir out of bed?^
Eli sighed as she sat down in front of the mirror, letting Imhiriel do her hair for her. "I don't know. I feel that something is going to happen today. Whether it is good or bad, I don't know, but I DO feel certain that it's going to be big."
Imhiriel laughed, slipping into Westron when her friend didn't respond in Elvish, as she usually did when anyone started a conversation with her in the language. "Your sense of intuition amazes me sometimes, Eli. Perhaps you are referring to the feast that Lord Elrond will hold tonight?"
Eli narrowed her eyes at the maiden through the mirror. "A feast? Since when did Lord Elrond want to throw a feast?"
"Since he heard that the royal party from Mirkwood would be arriving for the Council, and since Gandalf the Gray arrived a few days ago."
"Oh." Eli fell silent, allowing Imhiriel to do her hair in peace and quiet. She had heard that a Council would be held a few days from now; most likely tomorrow, if everything went as planned, and that a very important topic would be discussed. WHAT topic it was Eli didn't know, since Elrond seemed a little reluctant to tell her anything when she asked.
But how come he wants me to come to the Council, even if I don't know anything? It's not like I'm going to be able to help if I've got no idea what they're talking about. Before she had asked Elrond about the topic for the Council, he had told her that he wished her to be present. When she asked why, Elrond gave her the vague response that whatever might be said there might help her find her way home.
Finding him a little useless, she decided to put her persuasive powers to the test by questioning Gandalf the Gray, a wizard from who-knows-where. When the two of them had first talked, Eli couldn't help but be reminded of Camille, especially from the rather hasty way he talked. However, even if he talked fast, Gandalf was wise, and didn't say anything that didn't or shouldn't be said. As anyone could tell, she couldn't extract a single bit of information from him.
There were more. Just three months after she first arrived in Rivendell, another person showed up. It was Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit from a place in the West known as the Shire. Apparently Bilbo was Elrond's old friend, having met him during the his "adventure" with thirteen Dwarves and Gandalf, and that he was planning to stay in Rivendell permanently to finish his book.
From the moment Elrond introduced Eli to Bilbo, the two of them became fast friends. Eli liked the Hobbit's easygoing and sometimes sarcastic nature, and Bilbo enjoyed her quick-wittedness and rather sharp tongue. He was the first one whom Eli approached to ask about the upcoming Council, but Bilbo wouldn't say much about it either. He said that Elrond told him not to mention anything about it to anyone else, even if SHE was one of those invited to come.
"There now, that's done."
Eli brought herself out of her reverie, and stared at herself in the mirror. The hair around her face was now pulled back in a sort of up-do, held back by a couple of pins that disappeared into her hair perfectly. She smiled at Imhiriel. "Thanks, Imhiriel. You've done a wonderful job. Normally I wouldn't spend so much time on my hair, but you always manage to make me look fantastic in so short a time."
Imhiriel laughed good-naturedly. ^Your gratitude is highly accepted, Eli.^ She put the brush and other hair implements back into the various drawers of the dressing table, and grinned at her friend. "Now go! Lady Arwen awaits you in the dining hall!"
Eli smiled, then turned, walking out the door and leaving Imhiriel to do her job.
* * *
Arwen looked up when her sensitive Elf ears picked up the sound of footsteps heading towards the hall. She sat up straighter, and smiled when the door opened, revealing a yellow-clad figure with slightly wavy black-brown hair framing golden hazel eyes. ^You have arrived, Eli.^
Eli smiled slightly at her in greeting, and approached. ^Good morning, Arwen.^ She took a seat beside her, and proceeded to eat her breakfast quietly.
Arwen looked on at the girl, a thoughtful glint in her eyes. She had been in Rivendell for quite a while already, and yet she was still a mystery to her. No mortal can go for that long without being unraveled by an Elf. But Elisabeth Carnahan was different from all the other mortals she had met. For one, she was from another world, and for another, she was extremely talented at keeping secrets. Not even the probing gaze of an Elf could get past the invisible barrier that she had built around herself.
At that moment, another door flew open, and four different pairs of feet were to be heard slapping against the stone floor of the hall. Eli paused a moment in her eating to see who had arrived.
Four different heads appeared on the other side of the table, but their owners were apparently so short that their chins barely cleared the top of the table. Arwen greeted them with smiles. "Good morning, dear Hobbits! How goes it with you today?"
It was Bilbo who answered her with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. "Ah, good morning to you, fair Lady Arwen, and to you too, Lady Eli!" He glanced at the three other Hobbits. They were younger than him, and seemed to be eyeing the food with greedy glints in their eyes.
"Good morning, Bilbo," Eli said quietly, putting down her fork before she continued speaking. "Who are these companions of yours? I don't think I've met them before…"
"Ah, these are my young friends from the Shire, Lady Eli! That," Bilbo said, pointing to the most reticent of the three, "is Samwise Gamgee, or Sam, as we like to call him. This one," he pointed to a more cheerful-looking Hobbit, who seemed just slightly taller than his other companions, "is Meriadoc Brandybuck, but we all just call him Merry. And this last one is Peregrin Took, or Pippin, sometimes even Pip." He turned to the three Hobbits, and said, "My lads, before you sits one of the most beautiful ladies to ever walk the halls of Rivendell: the Lady Elisabeth Carnahan. She is the princess from a kingdom far away to the East, beyond the Iron Hills and the reach of the maps of any mapmaker in all of Middle-Earth."
Arwen looked on, amused, as the three Hobbits looked up at Eli, and watched as their eyes widened to the size of teacups when they saw her.
Pippin swallowed his mouthful of food – he had already begun to eat – and asked, "A-are you an Elf, Lady Elisabeth?"
Eli smiled slightly, and shook her head. "No, I'm not an Elf, I'm just a plain old mortal girl. Please, call me Eli, or Lady Eli, if you must." She turned to Bilbo, and her eyes narrowed. "And Bilbo, if you're going to be calling anyone beautiful, it might as well be someone who deserves it, like Arwen or one of the other Elf-maidens."
"I don't see why anyone shouldn't call you beautiful, Lady Eli," Merry blurted out. "You're as pretty as any Elf-maiden, maybe prettier – well, not as pretty as Lady Arwen of course – but putting that aside, you deserve Bilbo's compliment. I thought you were another Elf-maiden, I did."
Bilbo laughed heartily, and he patted Merry on the back. "Well said lad, well said! Spoken like a true Brandybuck – all honesty and not much of wisdom, but that honest mouth of yours might bring you places yet!"
Arwen giggled to herself, and she noticed that Eli was laughing quietly as well, her shoulders quaking slightly with her suppressed laughter. When she had managed to recover, Arwen turned to Bilbo, and said, "How does your nephew fare, Bilbo?"
Bilbo shrugged, and his face darkened. "I do not know yet, My Lady. Lord Elrond says that he has taken out the shard of the Morgul-blade from Frodo's shoulder, and that he is safe from death now, but he does not wish to awaken him from his sleep. His journey here from the Shire has been particularly tiring for him, and he needs as much rest as he can get."
Arwen nodded. "I see." She fell silent for a while, thinking. It is fortunate that the young Hobbit is out of harm's way. I can breathe easier now.
But that did not stop Eli's questioning. "Nephew? Bilbo, just who's this nephew you're talking about? And why did you say that his trip here was tiring?"
"Now is not the right time to ask such questions as that, I am afraid," Arwen said softly. Her father had told her not to let Eli know about anything that concerned Frodo and the burden he bore with him. She would know everything at the Council. She grinned. "I have an idea. Let us go riding, you and I, and stay away from this place for a while. Let us have a picnic, if you wish. Let us not return until the afternoon. By then, the party from Mirkwood should have arrived."
Eli cocked an eyebrow at her, and looked at her critically, but then, nodded in response. "Okay, sounds like fun. I'll meet you at the stables when we're through."
Arwen nodded, and turned back to her breakfast, relieved to have stopped any questions for the meantime.
* * *
Eli flopped down on the grass beside Arwen, the both of them clad in their usual Ranger's clothing. Whenever the two of them snuck out of the palace – which happened VERY often – they would don on these clothes, grab their bows and quivers along the way, then head to the stables for their horses. They would then ride out to the farther reaches of Rivendell, but they never chose to go anywhere near the Ford. The fear of Orcs attacking them was just too great.
"Why did you drag me all the way out here, Arwen?" Eli asked as she lazily closed her eyes, resting from the ride they had on the way to this spot. It was a small grove of oak trees, with a little spring running through it. Here, all was peaceful and quiet. Only Arwen and Eli knew of this place, and they retreated here often whenever they felt the need for privacy.
Arwen took a seat across from her. ^There is something I wish to tell you. Two things, actually.^
Eli didn't feel like opening her eyes. ^What then?^
Silence for a moment, then Arwen replied, ^Eli, I am in love with a mortal.^
^So? What does that – oh.^ Eli opened her eyes, and looked at her friend. In an attempt to lighten up the mood, she smirked, and asked, "So who's the lucky man?"
Arwen smiled slightly as well before replying, "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, but my brothers and I sometimes call him by the name of Estel. I am sure you have heard my brothers and myself speaking of him occasionally?"
"Uh huh, I do."
"And you have seen him, have you not?"
Eli paused a moment, thinking. HAVE I seen him already? Searching her mind for an answer, a face finally popped into her head. It was of a tall man, with long grayish-brown hair and facial hair, and clear, piercing gray eyes. "Yeah, I think I remember him now. He was the one who came in the night before, right? The one who was walking with Glorfindel?"
Arwen nodded. "Aye, he was the one." Her face seemed slightly worried now. ^What did you think of him?^
^What do I think of him? Hmmm, you ask me a rather hard question, Arwen.^ Eli lowered her head slightly, thinking. After a moment, she looked back up again, and replied, ^I think that he seems rather nice. I am yet to find any fault in him, to be honest. The very brief time I have spent talking with him has left me a very good impression about him. I hold him in high regard now, but that may change as time goes on.^ She shrugged. ^Nonetheless, you should not let MY opinion change what you think of him, Arwen. After all, you HAVE spent more time with him. I have spent but a few minutes in his company, whereas YOU have been with him for most of his life.^
She grinned when Arwen blushed slightly, and ducked her head. ^I suppose you are right.^
Eli decided to ask a question of her own. ^Arwen, why do you seem so troubled by this? Why did you ask me that question?^
^I was considering giving up my immortality for his sake,^ Arwen answered softly. ^That is the only way it can be done. If Estel cannot be made immortal, in spite of the Elven blood that runs through his veins, then I shall become mortal for his sake. However, Father does not seem to agree with my wish. He desires that when all of this is over, I would join him in going over the Sea towards Eressea, and live there forever.^
Eli paused, thinking hard as she gazed at her friend. After a long pause, she spoke. ^Arwen, do you love him?^
Silence for a moment. ^Yes.^
^Do you really, really love him? Do you love him so much that you would be willing to die for him if you had to do so?^
^Yes, with all my heart.^
^Then the decision has been made.^ Eli gave her one of her rare, reassuring smiles. "There's a saying where I live: 'Love knows no time, no distance, no end. It only knows the here, the now, the beginning. Love goes on for all eternity, and will bridge any gap, even those created by time, space, and death.' So you see? Love him, Arwen. Don't let anyone dictate whom you should love. No one but yourself and nothing but your heart can make that decision for you."
Arwen smiled at her, and for the first time since getting to the grove, she seemed lighthearted again. ^From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your counsel, Lady Eli.^ Her smile became mischievous. ^Now I have news for you. Did you not know that there are two Elves who have their eye on you?^
Eli blinked in surprise. Eh? Elves have their eye on me? ^Who might these Elves be, Arwen? I certainly have no idea.^
^Try to guess first, Eli,^ Arwen teased.
^Oh, is that how you play your game? Very well then. Glorfindel? I've seen him staring at me sometimes.^
A shake of the head.
^Lindir? He seems to be singing a lot of love songs these past few days.^
Still wrong.
^Gildor?^
Arwen's shoulders shook suddenly in silent laughter, but no, she was still wrong.
Eli was getting frustrated. How am I going to pry the answer out of her?!?!?! At last, a slow smile crept onto her face, and she had a name that she was sure would get her the answer she need. ^Ah, I think I have it! Could it be…Erestor?^
That did it. Arwen threw her head back, and let her laughter escape. The sound rang clear and high against the trees. ^E-Erestor?!^ she stammered between laughs. ^What in the whole of Middle-Earth gave you THAT idea?!?!^
^I do not know. I just believed that it would get a certain reaction from you, Arwen.^ Eli smiled. ^As you can tell, I do not have any proper guesses. Please, let us end this odd riddle and tell me the answer!^
^Alright then, you shall have your answer,^ Arwen said as she paused to collect herself. After a moment, she spoke again, in a very serious tone, ^Eli, it is my brothers who have their eye on you.^
Eli felt all of the blood drain away from her face. "Your BROTHERS? As in Elladan and Elrohir?!"
Arwen laughed. ^Why do you seem so shocked, Eli? And of course, I am referring to Elladan and Elrohir. They ARE the only brothers I have.^
Eli shook her head, and turned away. She didn't know what to say. Oh God, what has the world decided to do with me?!?!? Let an Elf – wait, TWO Elves – have a crush on me!!!! Okay, so it doesn't hurt that they're handsome, and smart, and kind, and… She shook her head. This IS NOT the way it's supposed to be!!!!! I can't have the BOTH of them at the same time!!!! She groaned, and thumped her head lightly against the trunk of the tree she was leaning on. "Oh sweet Lord, what have you decided to DO to me?!?!"
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Heheheh, decided to have a little fun there with Eli! Oh, and if any of you are wondering…Erestor is one of Elrond's chief counselors. Judging from the way I imagine him, he's quite old, but not physically, naturally. And the reason why Arwen found this so funny is that Erestor doesn't take any interest in ANY female, much less a girl like Eli. Anyway, now that that's done, let's move on to the next chapter: the party of two from Mirkwood has arrived, and Frodo is FINALLY awake. Eli and Camille meet at last! See ya next chapter!