Eli peered at herself in the mirror, looking at herself from as many angles as possible. "Do you think he'll notice the difference?"
Camille's reflection shook its head in answer to her question. "From a distance, there's no difference at all. Especially if you hide your ears the way you just did. But up close, maybe he'll notice little things. – like you became just a little bit slimmer and how your reflexes and senses got a little better all of a sudden. But aside from that, I don't think there's anything different from the old you and the new you."
"Great. Cause I want to give Elrohir a surprise he won't ever forget," Eli answered with an evil grin.
Camille laughed, and Eli noticed that it had become just slightly more melodious than before. "Don't give the poor guy a heart attack now! You just might lose him when you've finally become immortal!" She turned to the door then. "Oh, and Legolas, you know that it's useless to try and sneak up on us now that we're Elves too. And the door's open!"
Eli turned towards the door as Legolas came in, and had to grin at the disappointed look on his face. "Alas, I have been foiled again!" He smiled brilliantly then. "And a pleasant Midsummer's Eve to you, My Ladies! I hope that I find you well this evening?"
Camille laughed at his sudden politeness, and curtsied to him. She was dressed in a pale green Elvish dress richly embroidered with a leaf design in silver thread. "Oh, we are quite well, My Lord! What brings you to our chambers this time?"
"I come bringing news. The riding of Elves from the North has entered the walls of the Pelennor, and they are making swift progress towards the White City. If you wish to greet them, you must make haste to the courtyard." Legolas extended his arm to Camille. "Come Camille, let us go. My father goes in that riding as well, and he will be quite eager to meet his future daughter-in-law."
Camille whacked Legolas on the arm. "Legolas!" She turned to Eli then. "Hey Eli, want to come now?"
Eli smiled, and shook her head. "Nah, I'll come along later. You two go ahead of me. I'll follow you later." As her best friend and her fiancé left her in their room, she sighed, and walked onto the balcony. She had wanted to stay behind till later because the balcony had the best view of the courtyard. Already she could see lots of people milling around, most of them talking in hushed tones. Aragorn was already there, decked out in all his finery, and Eli thought that he looked more than a little anxious.
Of course, she knew why. Wedding jitters eh, big brother? Aragorn had long told the Companions that come Midsummer's Eve, he and Arwen would be joined at last as husband and wife. And since it WAS Midsummer's Eve, that meant that they were only waiting for the bridal party to come through the north gates of Minas Tirith.
With her gift of Elvish sight, she could now see quite a ways off, and in the distance, she could already see the approaching party. At the forefront went Elladan and Elrohir, and they brought a banner of silver with them. Behind them she could see Glorfindel and Erestor and all of the household of Rivendell. After them came the Lady Galadriel and Celeborn, Lord of Lothlorien, riding upon white steeds, and with them many fair folk of their land, gray-cloaked with white gems in their hair. Following the Lothlorien party was a smaller one consisting of Elves clad in green and brown, and their leader was so similar to Legolas that Eli immediately deduced that they were the party from Mirkwood, and that the leader was King Thranduil, Legolas' father. And last of all she saw Master Elrond, mighty among Elves and Men, bearing the scepter of Annuminas, and beside him upon a gray palfrey rode Arwen his daughter, Evenstar of her people.
Knowing that they weren't that far off, Eli decided that it was high time she went into the courtyard. She sped down the stairs, thankful for her new Elvish grace, and soon found herself standing in the courtyard, waiting for the arrival of the riding party.
It did not take them too long, and soon Elladan and Elrohir rode in, their banner streaming brilliantly in the wind of the evening. Almost instantly, Elrohir's gaze met hers, and Eli didn't miss the small smile of pleasure that appeared on his face. After exchanging greetings with Aragorn and the others, he immediately came to her, and pulled her into an embrace, ignoring the fact that the rest of the party had just come in and that they were most certainly making a spectacle of themselves.
^It has been long, my love, since I last saw you,^ he whispered as he lightly brushed his lips against hers in a soft kiss.
Eli giggled as she moved back slightly to look at his face. ^Much too long indeed, my love. I have missed you terribly.^
Elrohir peered down at her, and his eyes seemed to narrow slightly in observation. ^You seem a little…different Elisarien. Something has changed about you, I can feel it. What has happened while I was away?^
^I shall not tell you, you must find out for yourself.^ With that, Eli turned, and ran to Arwen. ^Arwen! Oh, it has been too long since we last saw each other!^
Arwen laughed melodiously as she returned her friend's embrace. ^Elisabeth! Indeed, it has been a very long time!^ She moved away from Eli then, and she suddenly uttered a loud gasp. ^By the Valar…Elisabeth, you…you are… But I thought you were-^
^A mortal?^ Eli grinned, and pushed back the locks of hair that were covering her ears. ^When you first met me, I was indeed a mortal, but not any longer. I am an Elf now, just as surely as you are one.^
Arwen's jaw slackened, and she stared at Eli with an extremely stunned look on her face. ^But…Eli…how could that be? Elves can become mortals, but mortals most certainly cannot become Elves! What has happened to you?!^
Eli laughed. ^Tis a long story, my friend, and I shall tell you everything when the celebration winds down a little.^ She grinned wickedly. ^But for now, it seems that you have a wedding to attend to!^
* * *
Elrond stared at Eli as she ran off in another direction, this time to join his son, Elrohir. An Elf?! She is an Elf now?! How could that have happened? He turned to Aragorn, who was standing to his right. ^Aragorn, what means this strange occurrence? When I last saw Camille and Elisabeth they were but mere mortals, but now they are undoubtedly Elves. What has happened?^
Aragorn chuckled, and replied, ^Tis quite a long story, and it shall all be revealed when there is more time, but I shall tell you a part of it. It would seem that our two Summoners were granted three wishes, and they could wish for anything they desired short of bringing a dead person back to life. But instead of asking anything for themselves, they used their wishes to give us what we, their friends, wanted.^
^Oh? And what would these wishes be?^ Elrond asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
Aragorn seemed hesitant to answer, but Elrond knew he would never keep anything from him, and soon he replied, ^For the first two wishes, they asked that Moria and Mirkwood be cleared of all the evil that lies therein, so that the Elves of Mirkwood and the Dwarves of Erebor be spared the trouble of removing Sauron's minions themselves, which would take many years of hard and troublesome work. But as for the last wish…^ he paused a moment, took a deep breath, and replied, ^for the last wish, they asked the Spirits that Merry, Pippin and myself be granted passage to the Blessed Land of the Elves in the West. They wished this as a reward for Merry and Pippin, but as for making such a wish on my behalf…they claimed they did so that Arwen and I would never have to be parted.^
Elrond listened to the tale with amazement and, to a certain extent, relief. At the very least, it means that Arwen will eventually make the journey to the Blessed Realm, perhaps not with me, but in time, in time… He smiled. What is time to an Elf? And what is the meaning of time in the Blessed Realm? He placed a hand on Aragorn's shoulder. ^It seems that the two young ones need my gratitude.^
Aragorn chuckled, and nodded. ^Aye, I suppose you are right. I have not thanked them enough…and I do not think I will ever be grateful enough for what they have given to me and Arwen.^
* * *
Elrohir continued to keep his gaze on Eli, trying to discern what was so different with her right now. I do not understand. Although it pleases my heart that she is more joyful now than ever before, but there is something else… Deciding that he could not guess anymore, he approached her, and said, ^My love, you must tell me what is so different about you. I cannot see it.^
Eli laughed, and shook her head. "Jeez, and to think that Arwen was able to see it sooner than you!" She pulled back a few locks of hair, revealing her ears. At first Elrohir didn't see anything different, but then, he noticed, with slowly widening eyes, that her ears were no longer the shell shape of mortals, but the leaf shape of the Elves.
He blinked several times, thinking that the light was only playing tricks on him. This…this cannot be! It's impossible! ^Eli, are you… You are…^
The smile on her face was tender and loving. ^Aye, my love, I am an Elf now. There is nothing that can go between us now Elrohir. Nothing at all.^
Elrohir stared at her momentarily, but then, the joy and happiness that swelled in his heart broke free. He laughed merrily, and swept Eli into his arms, twirling her around and lifting her slightly into the air. ^Indeed, this is the greatest joy I have ever received in all my immortal life!^ He set her down on her feet again, and smiled tenderly. ^We shall be happy for eternity now, Elisarien. We have time without end to ourselves now, and no bounds shall prevent us from gaining what we desire.^
Eli giggled a little, and she hugged him tight. ^Forever…forever for you and me… I could ask for nothing better.^
AUTHOR'S NOTES: AIIIIIYAAAAAAAAHHHHHH, it's nearly OVER!!!!!!! This MASSIVE first-time work is about to be wrapped up!!!! Somehow, it feels kind of sad, because I have kind of built a "bond" with my characters, and closing this will mean closing it off forever. On the other hand, I'm happy because…HELL YEAH, IT'S FINISHED!!!! I have heard requests for a sequel, and I have an idea stewing in my head for one…but I don't know how to write it yet. And I doubt if I WILL write a sequel for THIS epic. Hey, I just dished out 50+ CHAPTERS, and you expect me to write a SEQUEL?!?!? ANYWAY, let's go on to the EPILOGUE!!! All stories must come to an end, and so must this story of the Summoners, their lives, and their loves. But few know the TRUE ending of this tale, for it has been shrouded in the mists of history. What REALLY happened during the ending of the Tale of the Summoners? Read on my friends, read on!!!!