AGARWAEN-BOR
CHAPTER 3 – THE ELVEN-MAIDEN
Aranwë stood before Elrond, with his two friends, Celebithil and Elcalen. Andú stood off to the side, watching Elrond intently. It was hard for Aranwë to read what Andú was feeling, because his face seemed confused, focused, and attentive all at once. At last when Elrond spoke, Aranwë turned away from Andú.
"I send each of you as messengers to lands that need know of the betrayal of Falathar and the flight of the Orcs, both tales which you have heard in full. Celebithil, I send you to take the messages to the kingdom of Arnor and then to the Master Took, Thain of the Shire. Elcalen, I send you to the Grey Havens, and then to the Lonely Mountain. Andú, I send you back to Gondor. From there, I wish for you to take messages also to Rohan, to King Éomer. Aranwë, I send you to Lórien, and then to Eryn Lasgalen. Also, inform Lady Galadriel that, if she will, she should ride to Imladris, for many things I need to tell to her. Also, Celebithil, if you will, inform Cirdan I wish to speak with him here in Imladris. Go, while the clouds are still just gathering!" Each of the Elves bowed to Elrond and turned to leave. Andú bowed and said.
"Great is the power of the Firstborn, but who can say what times are ahead. I hope our next meeting shall be on a more joyful occasion, Master Elrond." With that, Andú turned and he too left the room.
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Each of the four messenger's paths were one, at least for the first few days. Each of them took no more provisions than what they would need, and all Aranwë had was his bow and quiver, though he was also skilled in sword combat, he preferred to keep out of sight as well. Besides, if someone had to engage in Orc at a close range, Andú had a sword of his own (and a bow also). For it was with Andú, that most of his time would be spent, for both of them were headed East over the Misty Mountains, while the other two Elves were headed West.
On the eve of their start, Aranwë sat out on one of the many porches of Rivendell. He sat long in thought, about the fair things that he would see… Lórien… the cleansed leaves of Eryn Lasgalen… and the Gladden Fields which had increased in beauty since the Orcs were driven out of that area. Then his mind shifted to the Misty Mountains. To him there was still a dreadful feeling about that place, even if he himself had made sure that every single Orc was driven out of there. Moria still housed nameless fears, though not necessarily a Balrog. Older and far fouler things. He shivered and looked toward the moon and the stars. As if he had just noticed it, far below the porch a beautiful Elven voice sang:
O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
We still remember, we who dwell
In this far land beneath the trees
Thy starlight on the Western Seas.
Aranwë stood up and saw standing alone, an Elven woman, clad in grey. He could not see her face, but by the way she was dressed, he could tell she was from Lórien. He listened to the song of Varda, Star-kindler, intently, as if he had never heard it before (though he had heard it and even sung it himself many times)as he slowly sat back down. The Elf's voice slowly faded and she stopped singing. Aranwë looked down from his position on the porch and he could not see the Elf any longer.
Author's Note: Sorry for the length of this chapter, but this one needed to be short. This is the first time, but definitely not the last the Elvish has been used in my fanfic. Once I'm done with the story, I will write an appendix or two to go with it, and that will have translations of any Elvish that is spoken.
I get my Elvish translations from a book called The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-Earth by Ruth Noel and from an online website (that I unfortunately no longer have the URL for) that has a Sindarin dictionary, which I printed out. Also, I do not know how long Chapter 4 will take me. Chapter 2 seemed to take no time at all, but that is because I already had it started before I posted Chapter 1 on ff.net.