Chapter 2 ~The Vanyar~
His niece's voice traveled through Rivendell to his ears, and he leaned on the sill of the window. Ever since she woke up, Elendil was different then she was before. Not in personality, although she did seem to be a lot more sarcastic and independent. It was in her abilities that caused Elrond to retreat to his room and think instead of talking to her.
Elrond looked out to the waterfall where she and Ciron were engaged in a splashing match. He watched them intently, his focus mainly on Elendil. She was given the name that meant 'star' and Alcawen, which meant 'ray of light'. And that she was. She was her peoples Ray of Light, just as Arwen who was her peoples Evenstar. Before her parents' death, Elendil had never laid hands on a single weapon. While Silvan elves were naturally good with weapons, they had practiced before hitting bulls'-eye. She however just let the arrow go and it went to its destination. Elrond sighed and walked away from the windowsill. He replayed everything in his mind: Replay: She threw a stone squarely at Cirons' head when he had no idea there was anyone else with them. Replay: She had shot an arrow straight through the hoop of the figure on the top of a Hall more than 40 feet away on her very first try. Replay: She had hit bulls'-eye her first time shooting at a target. Replay: She split Cirons' arrow in half, Ciron who had the deadliest aim in Rivendell. Replay: She cut a flying pebble in half - twice. Elrond couldn't make any sense of it, he thought back and remembered when she told him that she could hear with more precision, and that she could see past things around her. It seemed strange to him that she could sense things when he didn't even know they were there. There was something Elrond faintly remembered, but he couldn't put a finger on it. All of Elendils' believed 'coincidences' were linked, there was something unique about everything she said she felt and everything she did on that field with Ciron. She saw farther then all Elves; she heard the faintest of sounds and aimed with such precision and skill that it was nearly impossible to believe. Most elves shot with accuracy, in the Fellowship that he had founded, Legolas Greenleaf of the Mirkwood Elves had been the eyes and ears of the Fellowship. Shooting with great skill and accuracy, even Aragorn had done so. But Elendil was different in the sense that she had never touched an arrow before, and when she did it shot straight to the target. It was almost as if there was a force guiding it, and when she picked up the sword she had placed it directly in the center of the flying pebble. Most suddenly, her voice sounded in his mind, clear and beautiful, almost mesmerizing. Listening to it, he found himself feeling lighter, as if all the troubles in his mind were erased just to hear her voice. Just then it hit him, the answer to his questions lay in one being - her. There was only one way to see if his suspicions were true, he would have to wait until nightfall to see if he was right. The answer would be clear to him in one move, but unfortunately he had no idea how he would do such a task. If he succeeded, then the answer to his burning question would have to remain a secret. It was the only explanation; there was none other on Middle-earth who had such extraordinary skill and reasoning. They were extinct, said to have diminished before the First Age, for it belonged to ancient times in the Years of the Trees. They no longer exist, or at least cannot be found. They were the most powerful of Elves, more knowledgeable then the Noldor, more skilled than the Sindar, and said to be the highest of even the High Elves. Some suspected that Fëanor could have descended from that line, but he wasn't. The race was the most respected, accounted as the advisors Valar. They are not born from blood, they are the blessed ones, and when the first of its kind came to Middle-earth Ilúvatar sent them for whatever reason he had. For he was the creator of the world, he fully knows its fate. They were the children of the Water of Awakening, and their power was unsurpassable, they matched the powers of the Ainur, the Holy Ones. They were the primordial spirits who existed with Ilúvatar. With Him they created the world through the Music of the Ainur. After the creation of Arda, many of the Ainur descended into it to guide and order its growth; of these there were fifteen more powerful than the rest. Fourteen of these great Ainur became the Valar, or Powers of Arda. The fifteenth, Melkor, turned aside from that path and became the first Dark Lord. The many lesser Ainur that accompanied the Valar into Arda are known as Maiar. Only three have ever been sent or blessed by Him; Linquendi who fought Melkor and played a great part in his destruction he eventually went back to Him, Orliandhon who helped with the birth of Men Ilúvatar gave him the option of staying upon Middle-earth or returning to him no one knows what he chose, and Chilean who guided Yavanna though she did not know he was there. If Elronds' beliefs were true, she would be the first She-Elf to be blessed by him. What she was sent for he did not know, but he hoped that she was sent to live her life, and that he wouldn't take her away from Middle-earth. Aside from the immense power, skills, and gifts that were laid upon his chosen ones, there was also a huge burden. Those who where blessed from him were forever in danger, for they were sent to help the world, and danger would always seek them out. Anger, destruction, and pain would always be in their life and they would never be able to rid it from their skin. Who, when and why Ilúvatar picked those he did was unknown, but all that he did were without a doubt great in everyway imaginable. Elrond knew that being powerful was a great responsibility, and most importantly, it was how one used ones power in the world. Whether they would use it for good or for evil. Ilúvatar gave a special name to those whom he blessed, The Imperishable or The Vanyar. The name, which came from the Flame Imperishable which represented the aspect of Ilúvatar through which he was able to grant free will and true life to the beings he created. Nightfall came, and just as Elrond predicted Elendil was in the garden. She always went to the garden at nightfall and the there was nothing she liked better but sitting in the garden singing to herself and the flowers. He retreated down to the garden, choosing the darkest path that he knew. Walking softly behind the trees, Elendil was singing so she couldn't hear him, which worked to his advantage. He was getting nervous, his breaths came out rather loud and he reminded himself that he needed to do this. His hands were gripping the long silk scarf until his knuckles lost all feeling. He stopped behind a nearby tree, her back was facing him and she was still singing to the flowers. Valentines were her favourite, now she had softened to humming, but she was still unaware of his presence. She was now studying the pink flower whose leaves looked much like hearts. Remaining still, Elrond got ready feeling more nervous then he was before. She now sat down on a rock beside her Valentines, still humming softy. She was completely lost in her own world, and Elrond was glad she was. He waited for a few minutes. The last minute arrived, six, five, four, three, two.one. He sprang out from behind the tree and flung the silk scarf around her neck pulling it tight, and she started to scream and kick, it pained him to see her like that, but he didn't let go yet. He tightened the grip, and she screamed and fought even louder. He still held it tight and pushed her on the ground - or at least he tried. Right when he was about to trip her, a blinding white light burst from her body. It looked as if she was in the middle of the world splitting apart. Along every inch of her skin was a white glow. Looking closer, Elrond who was now on the ground saw that around her there was a faint mist in the light. Then slowly, it became dark again, and she stood there gasping for breath, holding her neck she fell to the ground, coughing and sputtering. Elrond staggered backwards, fighting the urge to run away from her so he wouldn't be the first face she'd see. If he could, he would have long been gone, but he couldn't. It took her awhile to calm down, and when she did the first thing she did was look frantically around her. Her eyes landed on Elrond. She was in shock, he could tell, and that shock momentarily stunned her into silence. Mixed feelings were reflected on her face, wonder, confusion, but above all, anger. "You." she growled, getting up from the ground on shaky knees. "Tee, it is not what it looks like." He said, trying to calm her down. "You're standing right there, with the same silk scarf that was wrapped around my neck until some bright light came and saved my butt. I was right this morning wasn't I? You don't want me here!" "No! I told you it is not what it looks like, I wanted to see something and I -" "I don't care what you want to see! I saw something try to strangle me tonight and you're holding the proof!" "It is because I had to see if what I thought was right and from what I saw here tonight I -" "From what I saw here tonight, is that you don't want me here and I'm all set on leaving." She walked past him knocking shoulders and fell flat on her face. Elrond took this opportunity to keep her down, at least until he got his side of the story out. "Let me go!" she shrieked. "That bright light you were talking about, you emitted that-" "Let me go!" she was now kicking and screaming, he was surprised no one heard them. "I have been thinking about it all day, and I found out the reason your hearing and sight is so much sharper-" "Because you tried to kill me, so tomorrow it'll be ever better!" "No! It is because you're not a Silvan elf, or Noldor. You're-" "I don't care! Let me go!" "You are one of The Vanyar!" he screamed overtop of hers. "I don't care! Just let me go!" "Stop screaming and let me tell you what I did it for." Much to his surprise, Elendil stopped. Trying to catch his breath, Elrond sat down on a rather large rock nearby with his hands on his knees. "When you told me that your sight and hearing were sharper this morning, I thought it was just an after-affect. Then you almost knocked Ciron unconscious and I began to wonder. Then you and Ciron started with that bet and you went to the Shooting Hills and just.just did whatever it is that you did, and he is right you know. There is not a single elf in Rivendell that can split a flying pebble in half." He stopped, his breath returned to normal and he stood up and began again. "There are ones that have great skills, there are ones who are a little more gifted than others, and I thought that you were one of those. Then I had to see if you were one of the Imperishable." "And.?" "And you are, I was not too sure at first, that is why I had to strangle you." "You had to strangle me to see if I'm some blessed elf?" she asked him with confusion, but there was a trace of disbelief in her voice. "You can put it like that, but it is not the actual story." "Right, so you did strangle me to see if I'm special or not." She was now mocking him. "No. Listen, long ago there were some elves that are blessed by Ilúvatar, those elves were unlike any others. They could fight better, they were stronger and much more agile and quick on their feet. Their hearing and vision were sharper and far better then all the elves. They were wise, intelligent, they were sent from Ilúvatar himself. No one knows why he does, but he has only ever sent three to Middle-earth, for he knows the fate of the world. He calls the blessed ones The Imperishable, or The Vanyar, because it's the Fire at the Heart of the World and-" "What is it?" "A mysterious power represents the principle of existence and creation. Little can be said of it for certain, though it is identified with, the Flame Imperishable of Ilúvatar. The Flame Imperishable represents the aspect of Ilúvatar through which he was able to grant free will and true life to the beings he created. The Vanyar are his own children almost, and they are set apart from the rest of the world. They are greatly respected, but are also greatly envied." He told her looking down at his niece still on the ground. "So what does it have to do with me being strangled?" She asked. "When a Vanyar is strangled, light emerges from somewhere within them, with a different colour, in a different pattern, and with a different level of brightness. Yours is white, and glows all over your body, and it is extremely blinding." He explained, still seeing spots of light when he blinked. Elendil seemed to be in shock, "So. what do I do?" she asked getting up off the ground. "Well you do not do anything, it is who you are, it is in your blood." "So you mean I can fight? Like really fight?" she asked suddenly excited, her eyes shone with excitement. "Yes, that would mean you can fight.is that really important?" he asked her, puzzled. "Of course it is! There's nothing else that's more important then that!" she told him happily, starting to jump up and down. "This is so amazing! I can actually fight with Ciron now!" Elrond cleared his throat, "Tee, that is another thing, do not tell anyone." "What? Why not?" she stopped jumping and stared at him. "You are one of the rarest races on Middle-earth, there is still evil out that that strives to destroy all good in this world, and if word gets out that you were sent from Ilúvatar himself they will never stop hunting you until you are dead." The told her as gently as he could. She stared at him in shock, as if he'd just told her that she was five feet tall. "I can't tell anyone? What's the point if I can't tell anyone? People are going to figure out sooner or later. I mean, how do you know all the other three that were Vanyar were Vanyar?" she didn't give him a chance to answer, "Because people knew! How did they know? They talked to each other, they knew and look at what they did!" "How do you know what they did?" he asked her raising an eyebrow. "I don't, but that doesn't matter." She said waving the matter away, "What matters is that I am Vanyar, I never asked to be and I still don't know why it's so important, but I will tell who I want to tell." She told him. Elrond looked at her and started walking out of the garden, "You will tell no one." He allowed her. He heard Elendil sigh, as expected as she quickly appeared beside him. Falling in step, she started to protest, "If I can fight, then why would it matter?" "You could die." He said plainly, walking up a set of stairs to the stables where the horses of Rivendell rested. "But-" "No." He cut her off and turned around to face her. "No one will know, I will hold a council and inform only those who are summoned. News such as this will travel too quickly then you can handle if it gets out, that is why we must keep it a secret." He looked at her to make sure she understood, and much to his relief, she did. She sighed again, lovingly patting a light-brown horse. "Will I at least be able to fight with Ciron?" she asked hopefully. It was his turn to sigh; she was so persistent that it drove him crazy sometimes. Unfortunately he would have to say no this time. "Tee, I know you really want to fight, for what reason I do no know why. However I do not think I want to know the reason." He began putting a hand on her shoulder. "But I have to say no this time. I am sorry.you can go to the Shooting Hills whenever you please though." Elendil looked down, her eyes were puffy and she looked crestfallen, "Okay." She whispered. "Tee, do not cry. This is a gift; there will be many days to come where you will be able to fight, many days. The last of evil has not been diminished, there are still Orcs out there who love nothing more then Man flesh. That is one of the reasons the elves returned to these shores, the race of Men are weak. You know that Elendil. You know that. Your time will come, and when it does it will be great." He said to her. She nodded, determined not to let this disappoint her. "Elendil," he said. She looked up at him, holding her tears back with barely a quiver of her lips. "Your time will come." "Mhmm." "It will." "Okay." "Trust me." Over the next few months, Elendil either spent her time at the Shooting Hills with Ciron or behind the waterfall singing, Elrond discovered as time passed that her voice was also blessed by Him, because every time she sang, his mind would be cleared of all troubles and he felt cleansed. He continued to watch her each day when she was in the Shooting Hills, letting loose arrow after arrow. It almost seemed to him that she was angry every time she let an arrow go. Her eyebrows would knit up in concentration, and she would stand as still as a statue when she readied her aim. Then lifting one finger the arrow would go flying into the center of the target. He often saw her staring at a sword, but she never touched it and Elrond was mildly impressed by her will. He mostly saw Elendil on the Hills, and the two often talked after she decided she had enough for a day. They talked about many things, and she would always question him when she was unclear. It seemed to him that Elendil wasn't the type of Elf most thought of her to be. She wasn't the type to give up on anything or anyone. The thing that confused him was she sometimes gave up on herself, but when it came to others she refused to let them give in. When he subtly asked her, she told him that it was much easier to convince someone else then to convince yourself. Over the next couple years Elrond noticed that she was smarter, stronger, and more ambitious and curious then she was before. She knew of lands, regions, races, history, seas, even plants and songs she knew of. Often he would find her reading a book and taking in information, she picked things up so excessively quickly that by the time of her one hundred eighty-second birthday, she had become a child of every single elf in Rivendell. It was almost as if she were the Lady of Rivendell already, she talked to each of them, listening to them and playing with them. The one thing that hadn't changed in his niece was her spirit, and he was forever grateful for that. There were so many who changed and became rude, fake and vain. To those, Elendil had a different nature, she never yelled at them nor did she talk about them behind their backs. She simply ignored them; there were only two who had changed greatly, Yalin and Hielhn. The two brothers were jealous of all the other elfs around them because of their beauty and grace. But Elendil spoke for the people; there was nothing she felt more strongly about then peace and joy. Eventually she requested Elrond banish them from his realm, but he couldn't do that. They were his people and he needed them to be safe. When news of this reached the elves of Rivendell, they were appalled. "Why not banish them?" they asked one another looking to Elendil for an answer. It was in times like this that he thought Elendil would turn against him and not speak to him of important matters. But she never did, instead she turned the attention and anger away from him and directed it at herself. "They will learn to be respectful of others soon, just give them time." The people of Rivendell thought this to be extremely odd, considering that the two bothered her the most and everyone knew she hated it. He often wondered what drove her to stick by him, considering the fact that every single one of his actions that he did for her benefit were met with a rather strong front. He didn't give it much thought though, he was just thankful that for the past ten years their relationship encountered no major obstacles. Over the years, the two of them became extremely close. There was almost nothing in Elendil's life that Elrond didn't know about, and everything Elrond wanted her to know, she did. There were some things that she found out herself due to her curious and mostly adventurous nature. She was wandering around the grounds one day when she stumbled by him talking to Ciron. She wasn't close to them; she was about sixteen feet away from the stables. Her ears picked up on voices and with a little concentration they were overheard. That is how she figured out that today was the day of the Council of Vanyar, and while Elendil had protested greatly against him informing all those at the council, she finally allowed it to proceed. That was one of the special things about their relationship, he always asked her about something that concerned her, which was basically everything before he carried it through. Sometimes he would carry it through even if she opposed it, but because of this ritual, she learned the art of negotiation. One of the things Elrond grew to love about her was that her advice was a piece that was like a gem, when she they talked, she took it seriously. Very seriously but there was always a touch of the girl he knew and loved. She always found a way to ease a tense situation; there was nothing that she couldn't talk to him about, and he always sought out her opinions and advice. So naturally, Elendil bounced up the stone steps just moments before company was expected to arrive. "Tee, are you ready?" "Yea, I guess I am. I don't have to do anything do I? Like you're not going to strange me again are you?" she asked him in a semi- serious voice. Elrond laughed, and answered in the same tone, "I don't know, I might have to if they don't believe me." She started to finger the necklace he gave her ten years ago, and looked slightly nervous. "They won't believe you?" she asked him seriously sitting down on a bench beside him, and he did the same. "They will, given certain actions of proof. The ones attending this council are wise Tee, they will believe me when I tell them the truth, however they would very much like to see your talents for themselves." He told her honestly. She nodded in understanding, "what do I have to do?" she asked as her hands dropped to her thighs. "Well nothing too great, you might have to cut a pebble in half again, or perhaps try to overhear a conversation." He said winking at her, smiling. She laughed and stood up again, waves of pale blue robes followed her actions. "Great! I'll be there soon," she turned to leave but stopped and turned back around "who's going to be there? Anyone special?" Elrond laughed, "Special? My dear Tee, all those attending are special."
His niece's voice traveled through Rivendell to his ears, and he leaned on the sill of the window. Ever since she woke up, Elendil was different then she was before. Not in personality, although she did seem to be a lot more sarcastic and independent. It was in her abilities that caused Elrond to retreat to his room and think instead of talking to her.
Elrond looked out to the waterfall where she and Ciron were engaged in a splashing match. He watched them intently, his focus mainly on Elendil. She was given the name that meant 'star' and Alcawen, which meant 'ray of light'. And that she was. She was her peoples Ray of Light, just as Arwen who was her peoples Evenstar. Before her parents' death, Elendil had never laid hands on a single weapon. While Silvan elves were naturally good with weapons, they had practiced before hitting bulls'-eye. She however just let the arrow go and it went to its destination. Elrond sighed and walked away from the windowsill. He replayed everything in his mind: Replay: She threw a stone squarely at Cirons' head when he had no idea there was anyone else with them. Replay: She had shot an arrow straight through the hoop of the figure on the top of a Hall more than 40 feet away on her very first try. Replay: She had hit bulls'-eye her first time shooting at a target. Replay: She split Cirons' arrow in half, Ciron who had the deadliest aim in Rivendell. Replay: She cut a flying pebble in half - twice. Elrond couldn't make any sense of it, he thought back and remembered when she told him that she could hear with more precision, and that she could see past things around her. It seemed strange to him that she could sense things when he didn't even know they were there. There was something Elrond faintly remembered, but he couldn't put a finger on it. All of Elendils' believed 'coincidences' were linked, there was something unique about everything she said she felt and everything she did on that field with Ciron. She saw farther then all Elves; she heard the faintest of sounds and aimed with such precision and skill that it was nearly impossible to believe. Most elves shot with accuracy, in the Fellowship that he had founded, Legolas Greenleaf of the Mirkwood Elves had been the eyes and ears of the Fellowship. Shooting with great skill and accuracy, even Aragorn had done so. But Elendil was different in the sense that she had never touched an arrow before, and when she did it shot straight to the target. It was almost as if there was a force guiding it, and when she picked up the sword she had placed it directly in the center of the flying pebble. Most suddenly, her voice sounded in his mind, clear and beautiful, almost mesmerizing. Listening to it, he found himself feeling lighter, as if all the troubles in his mind were erased just to hear her voice. Just then it hit him, the answer to his questions lay in one being - her. There was only one way to see if his suspicions were true, he would have to wait until nightfall to see if he was right. The answer would be clear to him in one move, but unfortunately he had no idea how he would do such a task. If he succeeded, then the answer to his burning question would have to remain a secret. It was the only explanation; there was none other on Middle-earth who had such extraordinary skill and reasoning. They were extinct, said to have diminished before the First Age, for it belonged to ancient times in the Years of the Trees. They no longer exist, or at least cannot be found. They were the most powerful of Elves, more knowledgeable then the Noldor, more skilled than the Sindar, and said to be the highest of even the High Elves. Some suspected that Fëanor could have descended from that line, but he wasn't. The race was the most respected, accounted as the advisors Valar. They are not born from blood, they are the blessed ones, and when the first of its kind came to Middle-earth Ilúvatar sent them for whatever reason he had. For he was the creator of the world, he fully knows its fate. They were the children of the Water of Awakening, and their power was unsurpassable, they matched the powers of the Ainur, the Holy Ones. They were the primordial spirits who existed with Ilúvatar. With Him they created the world through the Music of the Ainur. After the creation of Arda, many of the Ainur descended into it to guide and order its growth; of these there were fifteen more powerful than the rest. Fourteen of these great Ainur became the Valar, or Powers of Arda. The fifteenth, Melkor, turned aside from that path and became the first Dark Lord. The many lesser Ainur that accompanied the Valar into Arda are known as Maiar. Only three have ever been sent or blessed by Him; Linquendi who fought Melkor and played a great part in his destruction he eventually went back to Him, Orliandhon who helped with the birth of Men Ilúvatar gave him the option of staying upon Middle-earth or returning to him no one knows what he chose, and Chilean who guided Yavanna though she did not know he was there. If Elronds' beliefs were true, she would be the first She-Elf to be blessed by him. What she was sent for he did not know, but he hoped that she was sent to live her life, and that he wouldn't take her away from Middle-earth. Aside from the immense power, skills, and gifts that were laid upon his chosen ones, there was also a huge burden. Those who where blessed from him were forever in danger, for they were sent to help the world, and danger would always seek them out. Anger, destruction, and pain would always be in their life and they would never be able to rid it from their skin. Who, when and why Ilúvatar picked those he did was unknown, but all that he did were without a doubt great in everyway imaginable. Elrond knew that being powerful was a great responsibility, and most importantly, it was how one used ones power in the world. Whether they would use it for good or for evil. Ilúvatar gave a special name to those whom he blessed, The Imperishable or The Vanyar. The name, which came from the Flame Imperishable which represented the aspect of Ilúvatar through which he was able to grant free will and true life to the beings he created. Nightfall came, and just as Elrond predicted Elendil was in the garden. She always went to the garden at nightfall and the there was nothing she liked better but sitting in the garden singing to herself and the flowers. He retreated down to the garden, choosing the darkest path that he knew. Walking softly behind the trees, Elendil was singing so she couldn't hear him, which worked to his advantage. He was getting nervous, his breaths came out rather loud and he reminded himself that he needed to do this. His hands were gripping the long silk scarf until his knuckles lost all feeling. He stopped behind a nearby tree, her back was facing him and she was still singing to the flowers. Valentines were her favourite, now she had softened to humming, but she was still unaware of his presence. She was now studying the pink flower whose leaves looked much like hearts. Remaining still, Elrond got ready feeling more nervous then he was before. She now sat down on a rock beside her Valentines, still humming softy. She was completely lost in her own world, and Elrond was glad she was. He waited for a few minutes. The last minute arrived, six, five, four, three, two.one. He sprang out from behind the tree and flung the silk scarf around her neck pulling it tight, and she started to scream and kick, it pained him to see her like that, but he didn't let go yet. He tightened the grip, and she screamed and fought even louder. He still held it tight and pushed her on the ground - or at least he tried. Right when he was about to trip her, a blinding white light burst from her body. It looked as if she was in the middle of the world splitting apart. Along every inch of her skin was a white glow. Looking closer, Elrond who was now on the ground saw that around her there was a faint mist in the light. Then slowly, it became dark again, and she stood there gasping for breath, holding her neck she fell to the ground, coughing and sputtering. Elrond staggered backwards, fighting the urge to run away from her so he wouldn't be the first face she'd see. If he could, he would have long been gone, but he couldn't. It took her awhile to calm down, and when she did the first thing she did was look frantically around her. Her eyes landed on Elrond. She was in shock, he could tell, and that shock momentarily stunned her into silence. Mixed feelings were reflected on her face, wonder, confusion, but above all, anger. "You." she growled, getting up from the ground on shaky knees. "Tee, it is not what it looks like." He said, trying to calm her down. "You're standing right there, with the same silk scarf that was wrapped around my neck until some bright light came and saved my butt. I was right this morning wasn't I? You don't want me here!" "No! I told you it is not what it looks like, I wanted to see something and I -" "I don't care what you want to see! I saw something try to strangle me tonight and you're holding the proof!" "It is because I had to see if what I thought was right and from what I saw here tonight I -" "From what I saw here tonight, is that you don't want me here and I'm all set on leaving." She walked past him knocking shoulders and fell flat on her face. Elrond took this opportunity to keep her down, at least until he got his side of the story out. "Let me go!" she shrieked. "That bright light you were talking about, you emitted that-" "Let me go!" she was now kicking and screaming, he was surprised no one heard them. "I have been thinking about it all day, and I found out the reason your hearing and sight is so much sharper-" "Because you tried to kill me, so tomorrow it'll be ever better!" "No! It is because you're not a Silvan elf, or Noldor. You're-" "I don't care! Let me go!" "You are one of The Vanyar!" he screamed overtop of hers. "I don't care! Just let me go!" "Stop screaming and let me tell you what I did it for." Much to his surprise, Elendil stopped. Trying to catch his breath, Elrond sat down on a rather large rock nearby with his hands on his knees. "When you told me that your sight and hearing were sharper this morning, I thought it was just an after-affect. Then you almost knocked Ciron unconscious and I began to wonder. Then you and Ciron started with that bet and you went to the Shooting Hills and just.just did whatever it is that you did, and he is right you know. There is not a single elf in Rivendell that can split a flying pebble in half." He stopped, his breath returned to normal and he stood up and began again. "There are ones that have great skills, there are ones who are a little more gifted than others, and I thought that you were one of those. Then I had to see if you were one of the Imperishable." "And.?" "And you are, I was not too sure at first, that is why I had to strangle you." "You had to strangle me to see if I'm some blessed elf?" she asked him with confusion, but there was a trace of disbelief in her voice. "You can put it like that, but it is not the actual story." "Right, so you did strangle me to see if I'm special or not." She was now mocking him. "No. Listen, long ago there were some elves that are blessed by Ilúvatar, those elves were unlike any others. They could fight better, they were stronger and much more agile and quick on their feet. Their hearing and vision were sharper and far better then all the elves. They were wise, intelligent, they were sent from Ilúvatar himself. No one knows why he does, but he has only ever sent three to Middle-earth, for he knows the fate of the world. He calls the blessed ones The Imperishable, or The Vanyar, because it's the Fire at the Heart of the World and-" "What is it?" "A mysterious power represents the principle of existence and creation. Little can be said of it for certain, though it is identified with, the Flame Imperishable of Ilúvatar. The Flame Imperishable represents the aspect of Ilúvatar through which he was able to grant free will and true life to the beings he created. The Vanyar are his own children almost, and they are set apart from the rest of the world. They are greatly respected, but are also greatly envied." He told her looking down at his niece still on the ground. "So what does it have to do with me being strangled?" She asked. "When a Vanyar is strangled, light emerges from somewhere within them, with a different colour, in a different pattern, and with a different level of brightness. Yours is white, and glows all over your body, and it is extremely blinding." He explained, still seeing spots of light when he blinked. Elendil seemed to be in shock, "So. what do I do?" she asked getting up off the ground. "Well you do not do anything, it is who you are, it is in your blood." "So you mean I can fight? Like really fight?" she asked suddenly excited, her eyes shone with excitement. "Yes, that would mean you can fight.is that really important?" he asked her, puzzled. "Of course it is! There's nothing else that's more important then that!" she told him happily, starting to jump up and down. "This is so amazing! I can actually fight with Ciron now!" Elrond cleared his throat, "Tee, that is another thing, do not tell anyone." "What? Why not?" she stopped jumping and stared at him. "You are one of the rarest races on Middle-earth, there is still evil out that that strives to destroy all good in this world, and if word gets out that you were sent from Ilúvatar himself they will never stop hunting you until you are dead." The told her as gently as he could. She stared at him in shock, as if he'd just told her that she was five feet tall. "I can't tell anyone? What's the point if I can't tell anyone? People are going to figure out sooner or later. I mean, how do you know all the other three that were Vanyar were Vanyar?" she didn't give him a chance to answer, "Because people knew! How did they know? They talked to each other, they knew and look at what they did!" "How do you know what they did?" he asked her raising an eyebrow. "I don't, but that doesn't matter." She said waving the matter away, "What matters is that I am Vanyar, I never asked to be and I still don't know why it's so important, but I will tell who I want to tell." She told him. Elrond looked at her and started walking out of the garden, "You will tell no one." He allowed her. He heard Elendil sigh, as expected as she quickly appeared beside him. Falling in step, she started to protest, "If I can fight, then why would it matter?" "You could die." He said plainly, walking up a set of stairs to the stables where the horses of Rivendell rested. "But-" "No." He cut her off and turned around to face her. "No one will know, I will hold a council and inform only those who are summoned. News such as this will travel too quickly then you can handle if it gets out, that is why we must keep it a secret." He looked at her to make sure she understood, and much to his relief, she did. She sighed again, lovingly patting a light-brown horse. "Will I at least be able to fight with Ciron?" she asked hopefully. It was his turn to sigh; she was so persistent that it drove him crazy sometimes. Unfortunately he would have to say no this time. "Tee, I know you really want to fight, for what reason I do no know why. However I do not think I want to know the reason." He began putting a hand on her shoulder. "But I have to say no this time. I am sorry.you can go to the Shooting Hills whenever you please though." Elendil looked down, her eyes were puffy and she looked crestfallen, "Okay." She whispered. "Tee, do not cry. This is a gift; there will be many days to come where you will be able to fight, many days. The last of evil has not been diminished, there are still Orcs out there who love nothing more then Man flesh. That is one of the reasons the elves returned to these shores, the race of Men are weak. You know that Elendil. You know that. Your time will come, and when it does it will be great." He said to her. She nodded, determined not to let this disappoint her. "Elendil," he said. She looked up at him, holding her tears back with barely a quiver of her lips. "Your time will come." "Mhmm." "It will." "Okay." "Trust me." Over the next few months, Elendil either spent her time at the Shooting Hills with Ciron or behind the waterfall singing, Elrond discovered as time passed that her voice was also blessed by Him, because every time she sang, his mind would be cleared of all troubles and he felt cleansed. He continued to watch her each day when she was in the Shooting Hills, letting loose arrow after arrow. It almost seemed to him that she was angry every time she let an arrow go. Her eyebrows would knit up in concentration, and she would stand as still as a statue when she readied her aim. Then lifting one finger the arrow would go flying into the center of the target. He often saw her staring at a sword, but she never touched it and Elrond was mildly impressed by her will. He mostly saw Elendil on the Hills, and the two often talked after she decided she had enough for a day. They talked about many things, and she would always question him when she was unclear. It seemed to him that Elendil wasn't the type of Elf most thought of her to be. She wasn't the type to give up on anything or anyone. The thing that confused him was she sometimes gave up on herself, but when it came to others she refused to let them give in. When he subtly asked her, she told him that it was much easier to convince someone else then to convince yourself. Over the next couple years Elrond noticed that she was smarter, stronger, and more ambitious and curious then she was before. She knew of lands, regions, races, history, seas, even plants and songs she knew of. Often he would find her reading a book and taking in information, she picked things up so excessively quickly that by the time of her one hundred eighty-second birthday, she had become a child of every single elf in Rivendell. It was almost as if she were the Lady of Rivendell already, she talked to each of them, listening to them and playing with them. The one thing that hadn't changed in his niece was her spirit, and he was forever grateful for that. There were so many who changed and became rude, fake and vain. To those, Elendil had a different nature, she never yelled at them nor did she talk about them behind their backs. She simply ignored them; there were only two who had changed greatly, Yalin and Hielhn. The two brothers were jealous of all the other elfs around them because of their beauty and grace. But Elendil spoke for the people; there was nothing she felt more strongly about then peace and joy. Eventually she requested Elrond banish them from his realm, but he couldn't do that. They were his people and he needed them to be safe. When news of this reached the elves of Rivendell, they were appalled. "Why not banish them?" they asked one another looking to Elendil for an answer. It was in times like this that he thought Elendil would turn against him and not speak to him of important matters. But she never did, instead she turned the attention and anger away from him and directed it at herself. "They will learn to be respectful of others soon, just give them time." The people of Rivendell thought this to be extremely odd, considering that the two bothered her the most and everyone knew she hated it. He often wondered what drove her to stick by him, considering the fact that every single one of his actions that he did for her benefit were met with a rather strong front. He didn't give it much thought though, he was just thankful that for the past ten years their relationship encountered no major obstacles. Over the years, the two of them became extremely close. There was almost nothing in Elendil's life that Elrond didn't know about, and everything Elrond wanted her to know, she did. There were some things that she found out herself due to her curious and mostly adventurous nature. She was wandering around the grounds one day when she stumbled by him talking to Ciron. She wasn't close to them; she was about sixteen feet away from the stables. Her ears picked up on voices and with a little concentration they were overheard. That is how she figured out that today was the day of the Council of Vanyar, and while Elendil had protested greatly against him informing all those at the council, she finally allowed it to proceed. That was one of the special things about their relationship, he always asked her about something that concerned her, which was basically everything before he carried it through. Sometimes he would carry it through even if she opposed it, but because of this ritual, she learned the art of negotiation. One of the things Elrond grew to love about her was that her advice was a piece that was like a gem, when she they talked, she took it seriously. Very seriously but there was always a touch of the girl he knew and loved. She always found a way to ease a tense situation; there was nothing that she couldn't talk to him about, and he always sought out her opinions and advice. So naturally, Elendil bounced up the stone steps just moments before company was expected to arrive. "Tee, are you ready?" "Yea, I guess I am. I don't have to do anything do I? Like you're not going to strange me again are you?" she asked him in a semi- serious voice. Elrond laughed, and answered in the same tone, "I don't know, I might have to if they don't believe me." She started to finger the necklace he gave her ten years ago, and looked slightly nervous. "They won't believe you?" she asked him seriously sitting down on a bench beside him, and he did the same. "They will, given certain actions of proof. The ones attending this council are wise Tee, they will believe me when I tell them the truth, however they would very much like to see your talents for themselves." He told her honestly. She nodded in understanding, "what do I have to do?" she asked as her hands dropped to her thighs. "Well nothing too great, you might have to cut a pebble in half again, or perhaps try to overhear a conversation." He said winking at her, smiling. She laughed and stood up again, waves of pale blue robes followed her actions. "Great! I'll be there soon," she turned to leave but stopped and turned back around "who's going to be there? Anyone special?" Elrond laughed, "Special? My dear Tee, all those attending are special."