Author's note ~ I have decided that I will drop some little hints about my characters. Pippin has a little crush on Teneriel. :) :) :) But nothing will come of it, and he does get over it. There is something else that I am considering along this same story line, but it is a moot point to even consider it until I'm mostly through "Return of the King". Sorry if that seemed cryptic. :) :)
Also, when I reach the end of "Fellowship of the Ring", I am going to take a short hiatus from this story and finish "Sun Star: Child of Light". It's stressful trying to keep two stories going at once. But have no fear, it shouldn't take long to finish and then I'll be right back to work. Plus, I need to re-read "The Two Towers" and make sure that I don't forget any big events. :) :) .
There should be two more chapters after this one, and then we'll be into "The Two Towers".
Now, without further ado and author's notes, (lol) , I present ~
"And the Fellowship of the Ring Shall Be Ten"
Chapter XIII ~ "Namarìe"
Teneriel sat by a clear pool, her chin resting on her knees. Part of her wished that she hadn't sent Pippin away, because right now she needed some company. But the young hobbit was exhausted and he really needed some rest.
Just thinking of Pippin made her smile. It was obvious that he had a crush on her. But Teneriel was certain that he would get over it.
The gentle breeze created equally gentle waves in the pool. They lapped against Teneriel's bare toes, soothing her troubled mind. Or was it her heart that was troubled? She did not know.
The answers she had received earlier that day weighed heavily upon her. Galadriel could not see the future, and no amount of wishing on Teneriel's part could change that, no matter how great.
"Perhaps I should leave my destiny in more capable hands," Teneriel said ruefully. "My own seem to be rather hazardous."
The moon shone down on her, its pure beams trickling through the mesh of tree branches. High above her, the many stars twinkled against the black sky.
Faced with such beauty and peace, Teneriel began to relax. Her thoughts began to wander as she sat there, back to Imladris. Unbidden, Elrond's voice echoed through her mind, his words opening a doorway to Teneriel's soul. "And never forget this ~ you are my daughter, and I am never so far away that you cannot talk to me."
Teneriel tilted her head back and her blue gaze lingered on the stars, a longing there that nothing on Middle Earth could fulfill. Slowly, her eyes drifted closed and she whispered, "Atar?"
~~~~~~
Countless leagues away, Elrond blinked in surprise. "Forgive me," he said, rising from his chair, "but there is an urgent matter I must attend to. Glorfindel, I would appreciate it if you would take my place."
The Elf lord nodded and watched as Elrond swept out of the banquet hall. Worry flashed in his eyes for a moment, for it was not like Lord Elrond to leave during an event such as this. Glorfindel shook his head slightly and turned his attention back to the assembly. "Shall we continue?"
Elrond pushed open his chamber doors and walked through, letting them swing shut behind him. He sank into a plush couch and took a deep breath, concentrating on one thing and one thing alone ~ Teneriel. "Eriel? Are you there, daughter?"
~~~~~~
She smiled, a sigh of relief falling from her lips. "Yes, Father, I am. How is home?"
"All is well. Your siblings miss you greatly, as do I. How has the Fellowship fared so far?"
Teneriel groaned, leaning her head back against a nearby tree. "Not well, I fear. Gandalf has fallen, Atar."
She heard Elrond's small sigh, saw him nod knowingly. "So that is what I felt. Middle Earth has lost a great friend." He paused, pursing his lips. "And there was something else that I felt, Eriel. Perhaps I nearly lost you as well?"
"Your senses are as sharp as they ever were, Atar," Teneriel said softly, gazing up at the sky. "Yes, I nearly died. I would have had Aragorn not saved me."
"I thought as much," Elrond said, leaning further into the couch. "Has your wound healed?"
Teneriel bit back a laugh. Her father, always the healer. "Yes, for the most part. It is naught to be concerned with now."
"Are you saying that because it is the truth, or because you do not want to tell me the truth?" Elrond asked, his sharp blue eyes turning towards far-off Lothlorien.
"Because it is true!" Teneriel said, slightly exasperated. "Aragorn learned much from you, Atar. There is no need for concern!"
Elrond smiled. "Very well, little one. It grows late, and my guests are no doubt awaiting my return. You should tell Legolas that his father is here on a short .... visit."
Teneriel did laugh at that. "In other words, he is there to demand an explanation on why his son did not return home. I am almost glad for my absence. King Thranduil's temper is well-known."
"Teneriel!" Elrond admonished. "Remember your manners." He smiled slightly. "I must go, little one. Be careful, and remember that I love you."
She swallowed quickly and whispered, "I love you too. Give everyone there my love."
"I will. Namarìe, mel."
"Namarìe, Atar."
The link between father and daughter was severed, and suddenly Teneriel felt utterly and totally alone. The light from the stars and moon seemed so cold now, but Teneriel could hardly see it through the tears that flooded down her cheeks.
"Teneriel? Is that you?" a deep voice called.
She groaned, wiping furiously at her eyes. Perfect timing, she thought. "Yes, tis I. Is something amiss?"
Boromir strode into the clearing, his eyes flickering around. "I thought I heard you speaking to someone."
"You did," she said shortly, standing up. "I was talking to my father."
He raised an incredulous eyebrow, clearly not believing her. "But your father is-"
"Yes, I know. My father is back in Imladris. Just because he is not standing here before me as you are, Boromir, does not mean that I cannot speak with him," Teneriel whispered, smiling gently at him. "My father and I are very close, my friend."
"I see," Boromir said, holding out an arm. "May I walk you back, Lady Teneriel?"
She grinned at his sudden gallantry, shaking her head and taking his arm. "I suppose so. Thank you."
He bowed his head to her and smiled back. Their laughter rang through the trees as they met with their companions again.
Aragorn raised an eyebrow as she entered the clearing on Boromir's arm, but smiled when she sat by him. "Are you all right?" he whispered in her ear.
Teneriel elbowed him gently. "Yes, I am fine."
Gimli tapped his axe head against a nearby stone, catching the company's attention. "I have something to say," he stated bluntly. "And it could not be said until our two Elves were both healthy. I have met the most beautiful creature to ever walk Middle Earth, and she is an Elf. The Lady Galadriel has changed my mind concerning your species, Legolas and Teneriel. Perhaps my words in Rivendell were spoken in haste."
Legolas raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at his lips. "Then perhaps, friend Gimli, there is hope for you yet."
It was good that the last night in Lothlorien was spent in happiness, for there would be precious little to be had in coming days.
Atar ~ Father
Namarìe, mel ~ Good-bye, love
Namarìe, Atar ~ Good-bye, Father
Also, when I reach the end of "Fellowship of the Ring", I am going to take a short hiatus from this story and finish "Sun Star: Child of Light". It's stressful trying to keep two stories going at once. But have no fear, it shouldn't take long to finish and then I'll be right back to work. Plus, I need to re-read "The Two Towers" and make sure that I don't forget any big events. :) :) .
There should be two more chapters after this one, and then we'll be into "The Two Towers".
Now, without further ado and author's notes, (lol) , I present ~
"And the Fellowship of the Ring Shall Be Ten"
Chapter XIII ~ "Namarìe"
Teneriel sat by a clear pool, her chin resting on her knees. Part of her wished that she hadn't sent Pippin away, because right now she needed some company. But the young hobbit was exhausted and he really needed some rest.
Just thinking of Pippin made her smile. It was obvious that he had a crush on her. But Teneriel was certain that he would get over it.
The gentle breeze created equally gentle waves in the pool. They lapped against Teneriel's bare toes, soothing her troubled mind. Or was it her heart that was troubled? She did not know.
The answers she had received earlier that day weighed heavily upon her. Galadriel could not see the future, and no amount of wishing on Teneriel's part could change that, no matter how great.
"Perhaps I should leave my destiny in more capable hands," Teneriel said ruefully. "My own seem to be rather hazardous."
The moon shone down on her, its pure beams trickling through the mesh of tree branches. High above her, the many stars twinkled against the black sky.
Faced with such beauty and peace, Teneriel began to relax. Her thoughts began to wander as she sat there, back to Imladris. Unbidden, Elrond's voice echoed through her mind, his words opening a doorway to Teneriel's soul. "And never forget this ~ you are my daughter, and I am never so far away that you cannot talk to me."
Teneriel tilted her head back and her blue gaze lingered on the stars, a longing there that nothing on Middle Earth could fulfill. Slowly, her eyes drifted closed and she whispered, "Atar?"
~~~~~~
Countless leagues away, Elrond blinked in surprise. "Forgive me," he said, rising from his chair, "but there is an urgent matter I must attend to. Glorfindel, I would appreciate it if you would take my place."
The Elf lord nodded and watched as Elrond swept out of the banquet hall. Worry flashed in his eyes for a moment, for it was not like Lord Elrond to leave during an event such as this. Glorfindel shook his head slightly and turned his attention back to the assembly. "Shall we continue?"
Elrond pushed open his chamber doors and walked through, letting them swing shut behind him. He sank into a plush couch and took a deep breath, concentrating on one thing and one thing alone ~ Teneriel. "Eriel? Are you there, daughter?"
~~~~~~
She smiled, a sigh of relief falling from her lips. "Yes, Father, I am. How is home?"
"All is well. Your siblings miss you greatly, as do I. How has the Fellowship fared so far?"
Teneriel groaned, leaning her head back against a nearby tree. "Not well, I fear. Gandalf has fallen, Atar."
She heard Elrond's small sigh, saw him nod knowingly. "So that is what I felt. Middle Earth has lost a great friend." He paused, pursing his lips. "And there was something else that I felt, Eriel. Perhaps I nearly lost you as well?"
"Your senses are as sharp as they ever were, Atar," Teneriel said softly, gazing up at the sky. "Yes, I nearly died. I would have had Aragorn not saved me."
"I thought as much," Elrond said, leaning further into the couch. "Has your wound healed?"
Teneriel bit back a laugh. Her father, always the healer. "Yes, for the most part. It is naught to be concerned with now."
"Are you saying that because it is the truth, or because you do not want to tell me the truth?" Elrond asked, his sharp blue eyes turning towards far-off Lothlorien.
"Because it is true!" Teneriel said, slightly exasperated. "Aragorn learned much from you, Atar. There is no need for concern!"
Elrond smiled. "Very well, little one. It grows late, and my guests are no doubt awaiting my return. You should tell Legolas that his father is here on a short .... visit."
Teneriel did laugh at that. "In other words, he is there to demand an explanation on why his son did not return home. I am almost glad for my absence. King Thranduil's temper is well-known."
"Teneriel!" Elrond admonished. "Remember your manners." He smiled slightly. "I must go, little one. Be careful, and remember that I love you."
She swallowed quickly and whispered, "I love you too. Give everyone there my love."
"I will. Namarìe, mel."
"Namarìe, Atar."
The link between father and daughter was severed, and suddenly Teneriel felt utterly and totally alone. The light from the stars and moon seemed so cold now, but Teneriel could hardly see it through the tears that flooded down her cheeks.
"Teneriel? Is that you?" a deep voice called.
She groaned, wiping furiously at her eyes. Perfect timing, she thought. "Yes, tis I. Is something amiss?"
Boromir strode into the clearing, his eyes flickering around. "I thought I heard you speaking to someone."
"You did," she said shortly, standing up. "I was talking to my father."
He raised an incredulous eyebrow, clearly not believing her. "But your father is-"
"Yes, I know. My father is back in Imladris. Just because he is not standing here before me as you are, Boromir, does not mean that I cannot speak with him," Teneriel whispered, smiling gently at him. "My father and I are very close, my friend."
"I see," Boromir said, holding out an arm. "May I walk you back, Lady Teneriel?"
She grinned at his sudden gallantry, shaking her head and taking his arm. "I suppose so. Thank you."
He bowed his head to her and smiled back. Their laughter rang through the trees as they met with their companions again.
Aragorn raised an eyebrow as she entered the clearing on Boromir's arm, but smiled when she sat by him. "Are you all right?" he whispered in her ear.
Teneriel elbowed him gently. "Yes, I am fine."
Gimli tapped his axe head against a nearby stone, catching the company's attention. "I have something to say," he stated bluntly. "And it could not be said until our two Elves were both healthy. I have met the most beautiful creature to ever walk Middle Earth, and she is an Elf. The Lady Galadriel has changed my mind concerning your species, Legolas and Teneriel. Perhaps my words in Rivendell were spoken in haste."
Legolas raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at his lips. "Then perhaps, friend Gimli, there is hope for you yet."
It was good that the last night in Lothlorien was spent in happiness, for there would be precious little to be had in coming days.
Atar ~ Father
Namarìe, mel ~ Good-bye, love
Namarìe, Atar ~ Good-bye, Father