Ok, ladies, lords cookie-fic-fans and everyone who don't fall under any of the aforementioned titles, here it is: how the girlie is linked to the dreaded ONE RING (Oooo! Spooky, every time I write that "one ring" bit!!) Anyway let me know watcha think: have I lost it, am I a few fries short of a happy meal?? I have been studying pretty much constantly for boring college, so the brain cells could be all crinkly and dried up…
When dawn splintered the darkness that loomed heavy over Lothlorién, it was with a heavy heart that its people rose up to live their day. The Golden Wood had been shaken to the core by the events of the previous night. The morning heralded news that three Woodland elves had died, their breaths stolen from their bodies by the icy mist. Elves were not born to die and Lothlorién would mourn their deaths for many moons.
Aragorn had barely slept and now as he patrolled through the Wood city, he felt the faint nausea of fatigue rise up. There was a heavy presence about the place and many elves regarded him with suspicion for all but the most mundane things were to be feared at that moment. As he approached the court of the Lady of the Wood he paused, and kneeling down on one knee he bent his head in respect of those lost.
He was announced quickly and entered without preamble. The court itself was majestic and breathtaking, as most things in this wondrous place appeared to be. He bowed lightly before the Queen and waited for her to speak.
As he looked up he was transfixed. Galadriél sat before him, tall even though she was seated. She radiated beauty and wisdom. Long locks of spun gold cascaded down her shoulders and back. She wore flowing robes of purest white and though her skin was pale like porcelain, it glowed as though light and not blood coursed through her veins. It was very difficult for Aragorn to grasp that this magnificent creature was grandmother to Arwen. Her face bore no mark of such an age but as he stared into her eyes of azurite blue, he saw in them a depth of wisdom, knowledge and power that surpassed anything he'd previously witnessed. She was slender and tall, like all of her kind but even seated, she carried her head with regal grace and looked on him with such kindness and love that he found only in those closest to him.
"Please rise up. You have no need to bow before me. We are equal creatures in the eyes of the Illúvatar. You are most welcome to Lorién, though it is a time of trouble. I would like that you would see it when we are at our most peaceful."
Aragorn inclined his head slightly at the unspoken invitation that he would return to the Wood. He tried to voice some response but words failed him utterly. He felt completely inadequate in the presence of such wisdom and greatness.
"Please. Tell me of the fate of Mithrandir. My husband has told me that he is lost to darkness, but he knows not how."
"Gandalf sacrificed himself to save Frodo and the rest of the company from the wrath of a Balrog that dwelt in the depths of Moria. We would have been lost at Khazad Dûm were it not for him, and now without him I feel we are lost anyway."
"His loss will be felt most profoundly and I personally will mourn his passing. But you are not lost, nor is your cause. But I would speak to you privately on this matter. First, will you tell me of your fellowship?"
Aragorn could speak comfortably on something he knew so well and he told the Elf-queen of their escapades on the Caladhras and in Moriả. He spoke with high regard of the skill and bravery of Legolas, Boromir and Gimli and he told of the determination and steady presence of the hobbits, who of all of them were the least equipped for such an epic undertaking but had the most courage and persistence of all. Galadriél seemed enthralled by his words of high praise. When he finished, she smiled openly.
"I does my heart glad that the fellowship is lead so well by someone who has so much respect and loyalty for those he travels with. This does bode well for your quest. Come with me, for I would speak with you on an important matter."
Galadriél stood, drawing herself to her full height, towering over Aragorn. She led him into a smaller room where she indicated that he should sit. As he did, the elf-queen went to a long window and drew back the gauze curtain, and sunlight spilled into the room.
"The fellowship was nine. Elrond chose nine so that you would be evenly matched against the Úlairi. The sad and unexpected departure of Gandalf the Grey now means that you are outmatched once more."
Aragorn nodded in agreement, the reality of the situation weighing on his heart.
"I have studied elven lore and prophecies at length and I have consulted the Mirror. The way to my eyes is clear, though it does not make my heart glad. You must take another from Lothlorién to aide in your quest."
Aragorn frowned at this. The task that they undertook was dangerous and it was not something one would volunteer for unless one had great skill and desire.
"It is a kind offer, and I'm sure that it would be appreciated by the rest of the company but I could not ask you to place anyone else in such harm."
Galadriél's featured darkened and she turned away from him toward the light to hide her dismay and anguish. But she had considered what she was about to propose for a long time. It was the only way to conquer the darkness and for the sake of all, it was necessary.
"You misunderstand me Aragorn, son of Arathorn. I do not offer. The prophecies will it to be so. In order for you to have any chance at success, this must be so."
"You realise the dangers I'm sure, so I will not question you further. But who am I to take: a warrior, strong and skilled, a healer who will undoubtedly be needed. Whoever it may be, let it be known that he may never return here."
Galadriél sat again, feeling the weight of her decision weaken her resolve to continue. It must be her mind screamed.
"The one who shall accompany you is both a skilled warrior and learned in elven lore and magic. This one bears a strength derived from the life force of the Ring. You will take Nephryn."
Though her voice was steady and unwavering, her heart shuddered as the words left her lips. She felt as though she would be condemning the elf-girl to death and darkness once more. It was almost more than her heart could bear, but for the fact that the quest would be in vain if Nephryn did not accompany them.
"No!" Aragorn whispered, his face slack with shock.
"No!! I will not take a defenceless elf-girl, pure of heart and bright in mind to the very centre of hell on this earth! I will not take her. Legolas will not allow it and she will not be willing. She has survived so much to return here to you and you would condemn her to such a fate. NO! I will not be party to it!"
Aragorn dropped his head into his hands, breathing heavily. The thought of bringing such a creature into such a world was so undesirable to his mind that he could not even consider it. Beyond the simmering anger, he heard a soft sigh and looked up to see the glorious Galadriél crying.
"Do you not think that I abhor this? Do you not think that I, wisest and most powerful of all elves in this land, would find another way if there were one? Do you not think that I have not looked?!"
She took a deep breath and banished the tears, speaking again more assuredly.
"Nephryn is a creature of higher being. It is destiny that she will be at Mordor. When the Ring surfaced, her power began to grow. You yourselves saw how quickly she recovered at Imladris. I witnessed her decline when she arrived here for Lothlorién is protected from the effects of the Ring."
Galadriél saw the look of incredulity of the man's face and knew that she had to explain further, in order that he see the full implication of bringing Nephryn along with them.
When Sauron first forged the Ring, you know that in order to make the Ring binding, he poured some of his own lifeforce into it, but in order for its power to be absolute, some of its power must be stored outside the Ring. He intended that the one should bear a mark and then the power would be imparted by magical means. Before she was abducted, Nephryn had no strength beyond a gift for the art of Elven enchantment, the like of which I have never before witnessed. At Mordor, Sauron imparted to her some minute amount of the Ring's force. His intention was that she remain with him until he'd arisen to full strength."
Aragorn stared at the elf queen horror and disbelief contorting his dark features. He could not grasp that, in their very midst was a small portion of the evil that festered at Orodruin, and Sauron had inflicted upon the fairest and most unwitting of creatures.
"If she leaves the boundaries, she will be as strong and fast and able as any of you. She has been taught in the ways of Elven enchantment. She will not need protecting any more than you will."
Aragorn shook his head tiredly. This saving grace seemed fall to simplistic to be the solution to all of their problems. He saw in the expression of the elf-queen that there was more to this than what she spoke of.
"But there was no such being when Sauron first rose out of the darkness. There is more?" He murmured wearily.
"Alas there is. You have seen the mark Nephryn bears on her arm?"
Aragorn remembered it well. Gandalf had pondered the black emblem at length. Though it had been familiar to him, he'd been unable to recognise it.
"It is the mark of the Valar. The bearer of this symbol is known as the vessel. There was one vessel that walked Middle Earth in the Second Age. The Dark Lord did not discover it until after it had passed on from this life. If Sauron holds the Ring and the vessel, he may extend his dark reign beyond the boundaries of Middle Earth to the Undying Lands. But without the vessel, you will not be able to defeat him."
For a long time, Aragorn simply stared at the elf-queen. They could not defeat Sauron without Nephryn, and yet if she were to fall into his clutches, all hope of victory would surely be lost. He wondered whether this was help or a hindrance.
"You say that she will not need protecting?" He spoke with an incredulous tone.
"She will come to no deliberate harm from Sauron for the power of the mark dies with her passing."
Aragorn considered this for a long time, turning the possibilities over and over in his mind. Certainly their chances were improved with this, but equally the cost of failure was very high. Long had the Undying Lands been removed from such threats.
"Who knows of this?"
"Nephryn herself does not know. My husband and I have known since you arrived yesterday with the Ring. And now you know."
"And you will tell her and no one else?"
"As leader of the fellowship, it is for you to decide who ought to be aware of the implications of Nephryn accompanying you. I will inform Nephryn immediately. I believe that she herself will tell Legolas."
Ok, where will they all go from here?? R&R and I'll gladly post up the next bit. Please please please: I'm quite desparate for reviews, I'll do pretty much anything.
P.S. thanks to all who've reviewed so far: very constructive. I know I've a couple of typos, so if anyone wants to volunteer as a beta, I'd be more than grateful…