Chapter 4 ~Shadow~
Years had passed since the council and Elendil had honed her skills and some of the surprising powers that she encountered every now and then. Besides being incredibly skilled with the sword, bow, and any other sort of weaponry that she came across, she could also spin as high as she wanted (something which she found was actually a lot of fun), emit a bright white light whenever she wanted or when she got really angry (and it also protected her from harmful unexpected actions), move things with her mind which was her most recent discovery, and she found it extremely useful since she was usually much too lazy to collect all the arrows stuck within the target. She also had a 'blessed' voice according to her guardian, which she also found to be quite useful because since it clears peoples' minds of horrid thoughts or anything unpleasant, she was always able to help others out, and that gave her a very happy feeling inside. She put her hands straight above her head and extended her arms, and on slightly bended knees she dived into the water from the top of the same bridge that she jumped off years ago. Slicing through the water leaving no less then a small splash behind, she emerged from underneath a lily pad and started to sing:
I used to think
I had the answers to everything
But now I know
That life doesn't always
Go my way, yeah
Feels like I'm caught in the middle
That's when I realize
I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman
All I need is time
A moment that is mine
While I'm in between
I'm Not a Girl
There is no need to protect me
Its time that I
Learn to face up to this
On my own
I've seen so much more than you know now
So tell me to shut my eyes
I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman,
All I need is time
A moment that is mine
While I'm in between
I'm not a girl
But if you look at me closely
You will see it my eyes
This girl will always find
Her way
I'm Not a Girl [I'm not a girl don't tell me what to believe)
Not Yet a woman [I'm just trying to find the woman in me, yeah]
All I need is time (All I need is time)
A moment that is mine (That's mine)
While I'm in between2 Diving over and under the water she finally reached her favourite spot in the world - the cave behind the waterfall. For years she's gone there every single day, on every single occasion, and for the past four hundred and sixty two years she had spent at least an hour a day behind the falls. Four hundred and sixty two years wasn't long in an elf's life, mind you it's rather short, but Elendil was getting a little weary of Rivendell, although for the past few years she could never bring herself to admit it - even in her own mind, she knew she would soon have to. Perhaps one of the reasons she never told anyone of her thoughts was because she didn't want to hurt anyone, although she couldn't think of anyone that would greatly care for her troubles except for Elrond, she was quite pleased with her ability to hide her true feelings. "I'm not growing weary of Rivendell, I just want some adventure." She said trying to convince herself, watching a nearby moth. "But then again I know almost everything about this place, I can practically walk through it with my eyes closed." She argued herself. "But that doesn't mean anything, I just know my way around without tripping over a branch that's all." She rationed. "But it's so boring here, why can't I go to Lorien or something?" she asked herself out loud. "Because you live here!" she argued back. Then she paused, realizing she was arguing with herself - out loud. "Why am I arguing with myself?" Sighing in frustration, she started twirling again, remembering that so many long years ago Gandalf had witnessed the first time she ever did it. Spinning up and up and up in the face she didn't notice as Ciron walked in. It was his birthday today, and for all that she knew he should have been off duty. On her birthdays she never did much, mind you her birthdays weren't the best days of her life. She always dreaded June 14th; it was like a curse instead of a blessing. She never forgot the moments of her life when she heard that her parents had fallen in battle. She had almost drowned, but her mind had subconsciously called Elrond for help. He had found her and saved her. "Elendil! Can you please stop spinning!" Ciron called snapping her from her daydream. "No!" "Stop spinning!" he called again looking up at her. "No!" She watched him pick up a rock. "Come down!" "No!" she screamed, and he pelted the rock at her, she easily avoided it and came down laughing. Ciron stood, hands at his hips and looked at her sardonically. "Thank you." She smiled and smirked "You're welcome." She said sweetly. "Shut up." He shot back starting to walk out of the cave towards the opposite side of the Shooting Hills where all the other elves lived. "It's your birthday today." She said walking up the steps with wet feet. "How nice of you to notice." He commented, nodding at an elf. "Isn't it? In fact it's so nice that I thought you might want something." She hinted, helping out an elf with his flowers. "Oh really?" he asked as they continued to walk side by side down the straight stone path "Yep." She answered pausing to show the elf how to properly water her flowers. "You need to water from the top, it'll be healthier if you do." She explained sweeping her straight long black hair behind her shoulders. The elf thanked her and they went on their way. "It's nice of you to help." He observed. She nodded, "Yea well, I like helping. Besides, I like flowers." She answered. "I know you do." He smiled. "Well never mind that, I have to show you something birthday boy." She grabbed his hand and ran forward. Five minutes later they arrived at the Great Hall and Ciron was out of breath. "How can you run so fast?" he gasped, hand flat against his chest. "Huh? I don't run fast." She joked, knowing full well that along with her lovely spinning gift, she could out run most elves. He looked at her with an expression that said 'if-I-could-I-would' and she knew better then to taunt him even more. "Anyways," she began turning her back to him and reaching for a huge box. "Happy birthday Kee." She said handing it to him. He opened the box to reveal a brand new sword. The hilt had a single crystal in the center that shone in the sunlight. "Wow." He breathed, looking up and down the sword. "Thank you so much." He whispered under his breath. "No problem, it's the least I can give you for picking me off the lake's bottom." She smiled. He gave her a huge monstrous hug and laughed. After conversation about how she got the sword (delivered and specially made) he ran to tell his friends. The day carried on rather peacefully, and Elendil spent most of the afternoon with fellow elves singing and laughing. She learned a new way of watering flowers, and she was in a very good mood, until dinner that is. After she ate Elrond called for her in his room, and she had a sinking feeling that it wasn't something good. Slowly she walked up the stairs that lead to their section of rooms. "Tee." His voice came as she entered his room. "Yes?" she answered standing by the doorframe. "Is there something you wish to tell me?"
Elrond looked at her standing by his door, she was nervous and frightened. She didn't show it, but he could sense it. Over the years he had grown to love Elendil as if she were his own daughter. Bright, determined, loving, hysterically funny and strong, she charmed everyone she met, but Elrond had known she would a long time ago. She loved him very much and was never afraid to show it, but as time passed, he know that time would come when Elendil would want to leave and dwell with her Grandmother Galadriel in Lorien. Days and nights crept by and each day he saw the influence she had on her people. She played with them, talked to them, she gave them hope and support and they were all thankful. She was liked by all who lived in his realm, and she rarely gone a day without being seen by his side. There was one thing that she did not know about, she knew none of her relatives. She had always thought that Elrond was her only family. He suspected that she knew something about Galadriel from her readings, but she didn't know that Arwen and Aragorn where her cousins. All her years here, she knew everything of it. Everything Elrond knew so did she; she consumed knowledge so quickly he could barely keep up. Everyday she tended to the gardens and everyday she would tell him something about one of the plants. She took care of the steeds, her people, her friends, herself, and most of all, him. She put him first in her life, she always did as he bid and when she questioned something he always answered with honesty. As much as she loved him, he knew that her desire for adventure never wavered, for her skill with weaponry was too great to be wasted away in Rivendell. She never asked Elrond for permission to leave; instead she practiced and read everyday. The longer she stayed, the more she knowledge and power she gained, but he noticed that she only spent quality time with him and Ciron, while she talked to everyone there were very few who actually knew her. "It's Ciron's birthday today." She said, true to her fashion of avoiding confrontation. "I know." He looked at her again, studying her face. There was only one reason he knew what was going through her mind. They had a bond, one that even he couldn't explain, but it was there and that enabled him to understand her. It was only in this circumstance though, that he knew what she was thinking. The pieces went together like a bow and an arrow. He looked at her again and she seemed to regain her confidence. "No, there's nothing." He raised an eyebrow, "Alright." She smiled, "Well, see you at dinner." He watched her leave, wondering when she would come clean. "Master Elrond?" came a voice. "Yes Erestor?" he asked turning to face the chief of his own counselors. "Urgent news. Follow me." He quickly followed him and was led to the entrance of his realm. There, five elves had pale faces and sorrow-filled eyes. He looked at each one of the elves, finally realizing they were Rivendell's own. "He has been found Master Elrond. We found him near the borders of Mordor." Erestor said. He let out a sharp hiss. Amolas had been found, but what was he doing by Mordor? Amolas entered his world because of Arwen. She had befriended him, but that was in the nature of elves and especially Arwen. He had stumbled into his grounds and Arwen had kept him company, but he thought her company was something more serious. So naturally when she told him he thought wrong, he went crazy, accusing her of leading him on when he knew that her heart rested with Aragorn. He had threatened Arwen, threatened to kill her, he had even threatened to kill Elrond and the expression and seriousness on his face gave Elrond something to fear. "And?" he prompted crossing his arms. "We followed him for six days Master Elrond." One of the elves said, looking very tired. Elrond nodded, "Come, we will discuss this over dinner." Sitting at the dinner table with Elendil on his left, he could see colour return to their faces. He turned to Elendil, "You may leave now. I have a few matters to discuss." He said trying to sound calm. She looked at him with a puzzled expression but followed his orders, "Okay, talk to you later." Elrond watched her leave, dread coming over him. "Well," he started placing his hands on the arm rests, "proceed." "We saw him our third day out, but he seemed fine. Peaceful. Then he traveled to Angmar, and we knew that he must be under some kind of spell, but he emerged with no trace of beating, or emotional harm. In fact he looked happy. Then he made way to Mordor. and Master Elrond, I fear that evil still lurks there. The air is so foul and thick nothing could penetrate it. We had to watch from a distance. But Amolas did not seem to be affected; he just walked straight to the doors. They opened, and he stepped in. but there was nothing behind those doors Master Elrond. Nothing, it was dark and for the next days we only saw traces of him, a shadow, a lining of blonde hair. but nothing more. After that we came back, but I fear there is still something evil that lurks behind those doors." One elf said. His heart was beating a mile a minute there was no way. No. That cannot be possible. Or could it? Sauron was destroyed when the ring was thrown into the cracks of Mount Doom, but he could. yes he could relive through someone else. But why would Amolas go there? He was an elf, pure and desired love more then pain. "Thank-you very much. Rest now, your minds will not be troubled." He said faintly to the elves. Letting his feet take over his head, Elrond thought of nothing but Arwen. Would she be in danger? Would he try to hurt her again? But what business did he have going to Mordor? There would be no way to warn Arwen, at least not quickly enough. Besides, he didn't want to worry her, she was leading a happy life, even if it was a mortal one, she was happy. With such clouded thoughts, he never realized that his feet had stopped moving and that he was looking out across Rivendell, and the skies above crackled with thunder. "Erestor." He said, more to himself but the elf had been right around the corner. "Yes?" "Send word to Arwen, ask her how she is, ask of the weather in Gondor, the mood, anything that pertains to a normal day, ask her of it." He said as a huge stroke of thunder cracked through the skies. "Yes Master Elrond." He turned to leave. "Erestor," his voice came out stretched and tired, "Do not mention anything of your findings, nor of any of my suspicions." He nodded, "Yes," he paused. "Suspicions, of danger or foolishness?" Elrond sighed, and drew into shelter from the oncoming storm, "Both." Erestor nodded quickly and nearly ran down to have the message delivered. Elrond sat down on a beautifully carved chair and witnessed the rain pouring down and the elves scurrying to find cover. He studied five elves straight in his line of vision. They were running around like crazy in the rain, but no one was running for shelter, they were just running around, laughing, jumping in puddles. His thoughts ventured back to Arwen, she never jumped in puddles or anything of the sort, but she had fun, her life was filled with obstacles and she had overcome them all so gracefully and whole- heartedly that his whole being had actually ached when she left. His sight overruled again and he saw that there were now only two elves left, they were splashing water at each other, jumping up and down trying to tackle each other to the ground. Their arms were extended out with their hands resting on each other's shoulders, pushing and kicking and trying to get the other one to fall first, quite curious at what would happen next he watched with more interest. After a little while of tackling, one of the elves seemed to get bored and broke away running, laughing the other elf behind what he made out to be a female elf with a bunch of hair splattered all over her face ran after her. He followed the two for a while, watching them weave in and out of the various obstacles on their way and they both disappeared behind a large tree. With a look at the sky and coming to the conclusion that there would be no let up from the rain, he got up from his seat and his thoughts went back to Arwen, his daughter, Evenstar of her people and Elendil's cousin. Something he was sure to tell her, when the time was right. He walked along the edge of the steps right under the roof sheltering the rain. He descended down the steps and made way to the garden then BAM! "Excuse-" he started out putting his hands at his hips, but he got knocked into by the female elf. "Excuse me." he tried again before being knocked back again. "Gotcha!" said the female elf in a voice that sounded triumphant. He had it, "Excuse me!" he said sharply. The face matted with wet hair and the elf on the ground whose face was covered with dirt looked up. The girl started to laugh hilariously and that just got him even angrier. "Listen! Next time you are carrying about your joyful activities, try not to include me in the part of pushing." He said sternly looking down at the two elves. "Sorry Elrond," said the girl getting up and helping the other to his feet, "I just thought you'd want to have some fun. After all when do you get a rainy day that you can dance around in?" she asked revealing her identity by removing the wet hair that was plastered to her face. "Tee." He responded in disbelief. She erupted into giggles again and he realized that the mud-covered elf was Ciron. "We won't include you in our pushing games anymore." She laughed giving him a playful punch on the arm. "Good, I would like to remain clean if you two do not mind." He said with a smile. "We know, we know." Ciron said trying to remove some of the mud. "We're going to get cleaned up, well mind you I'm just going to jump in the water." Elendil said predictably. "Alright, but straight to bed after." He called after her as she and Ciron ran down to the water. Watching the two run down to the waterfront gave him a feeling of joy, but it was quickly replaced with pain. She's such a beautiful girl, she does not deserve any major difficulties in life, but it is always that that do. and that scares me. I do not want her to suffer any pain, but I know she will, we all will. Some just deserve it more than others, and it is always those who end up with a smooth ride through life. Then there were some who had a change of heart, who were raised with dark hearts but changed in the end. Ciron was one of them, a long time ago. Back when darkness was still on Middle-earth his heart was the same, he had a turbulent past filled with violence, agony, fear. Killing whomever got in his way that he hated, trampling on flowers, crushing moths with his bare hands, but all was due to his father Harper. His father had ties with the Dark Elves, those who had not seen the Light of Valinor lived in darkness, and Ciron had killed only because it was an outlet for his anger, he was in despair and he had longed for the feeling of joy, or happiness, for someone to love and care for him. When he had told his father of this, he had been cast from his home. He was found by some of the elves from Rivendell and was brought back. At first he was hesitant, he didn't react well to the surroundings and refused Elrond when help was offered. Slowly but surely he came around, allowing Elrond to help him and aid him in his emotional pain. Arwen had been his companion for quite some time, and he was just as cheerless as Elrond when she departed, but all was better now as Elendil illuminated more energy then the two of them together could possibly hold. He saw Ciron walk his niece to the door of her room and with a quick hug they departed. He followed Ciron until his figure disappeared into the darkness. He sighed, so much darkness he had suffered, and if anything were to happen to Arwen, then there would be more darkness. But he hoped that Amolas would turn out like Ciron, and that maybe he had gone to Mordor only to remind himself there is more pain in the world then that of Arwen not loving him, because a lesson like that Elrond could not teach, but only hope that one would never experience. Elendil may never understand how it felt like to have the weight of the world on your shoulders, to have darkness as your only companion, but for her sake he was glad that she would never comprehend it. After a few days, he approached Elendil again, wondering if she would tell him the truth this time. "Tee," he called after finishing up on dinner. "Yes?" she inquired wiping off a few crumbs from her dress. "Are you sure there is nothing you wish to tell me?" he asked, left brow lifted. "Yep, you know that bread was really good, I'm going to go get-" "What is it that you insist on hiding?" he broke her off. Elendil sighed, "It's nothing big, I just." she trailed off. She looked around slightly, with darting eyes and wet lips from too much licking - she was nervous. It was the usual routine that she exercised every time her nerves took over, but there was also something else there. She seemed to be scared also, almost as if she would run out of the room. "It's just that well, I've been here for a long." she started, and her nerves picked up, but he made no move to comfort her, she would have to let it out herself. "I've always wanted to go somewhere, to Lorien, to Gondor, anywhere. I want to go somewhere. I've been in Rivendell for four hundred and sixty two years, and if you ask me that's a little long." She blurted out, and as soon as the last word escaped her lips, her hand flew up as if to protect it. Slowly, her eyes fixed on him her hand parted to reveal the words, "but I won't dare go unless you say I can." He opened his arms and she ran and fell into them. Looking on top of her head, he thought of his Arwen in Gondor with her husband, Arwen who would be gone from him soon because of her choice to be a mortal. She yearned for adventure, but would give it up if he told her not to. Did she really love him that much? "Why is that?" he asked her as she stepped back. "Because. I can't go if you don't want me to. You're not going to be happy, you're going to be mad if I leave, and I don't want to make you mad or sad or whatever other feeling someone feels when someone leaves them. Besides who's going to love me when I leave am I supposed to love?" He laughed, "Many will love you, and you will love them in return." She huffed, "I doubt that." "I do not, now off to bed." He told her. "Alright." She nodded placing a kiss on his cheek, "Night." "Good night." He corrected her. "Good night." She corrected herself with no emotion. Watching her plod out of the Great Hall, he wondered about his own thoughts from a few nights before, Elendil may never understand how it felt like to have the weight of the world on your shoulders, to have darkness as your only companion, but for her sake he was glad that she would never comprehend it. But now it looked as if she did, although he wasn't completely certain as to why, there was defiantly an emotional girl under those long locks of dark, almost black hair. Perhaps her duration in Rivendell was putting the weight on her shoulders, perhaps she was just tired, but that seemed very unlikely. Elendil Alcawen was never tired, she had enough vigor to set a fire, a hundred fires, and that was what she was to him when he thought of Arwen and the shadows that could consume her. Elendil was her people's Ray of Light, and it fitted well because that was what she gave him in hard times, she had pulled him from such severe emotional pain that he often wondered how he would have made it without her, or if he would have made it at all. But she had to be her own light, and perhaps what frightened him most about her was that she would rather save others over herself. There were times when she would outright tell him that she would sacrifice her own life to save someone else's, all depending who it was of course, and when he asked her if she would do it if the one she was sacrificing her life for would never return the favor, her answer was yes. He clearly heard her voice when answering that question: "Because they pray for a savior, and believing is the most important thing. Everyone needs an angel." 2 Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman
Years had passed since the council and Elendil had honed her skills and some of the surprising powers that she encountered every now and then. Besides being incredibly skilled with the sword, bow, and any other sort of weaponry that she came across, she could also spin as high as she wanted (something which she found was actually a lot of fun), emit a bright white light whenever she wanted or when she got really angry (and it also protected her from harmful unexpected actions), move things with her mind which was her most recent discovery, and she found it extremely useful since she was usually much too lazy to collect all the arrows stuck within the target. She also had a 'blessed' voice according to her guardian, which she also found to be quite useful because since it clears peoples' minds of horrid thoughts or anything unpleasant, she was always able to help others out, and that gave her a very happy feeling inside. She put her hands straight above her head and extended her arms, and on slightly bended knees she dived into the water from the top of the same bridge that she jumped off years ago. Slicing through the water leaving no less then a small splash behind, she emerged from underneath a lily pad and started to sing:
I used to think
I had the answers to everything
But now I know
That life doesn't always
Go my way, yeah
Feels like I'm caught in the middle
That's when I realize
I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman
All I need is time
A moment that is mine
While I'm in between
I'm Not a Girl
There is no need to protect me
Its time that I
Learn to face up to this
On my own
I've seen so much more than you know now
So tell me to shut my eyes
I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman,
All I need is time
A moment that is mine
While I'm in between
I'm not a girl
But if you look at me closely
You will see it my eyes
This girl will always find
Her way
I'm Not a Girl [I'm not a girl don't tell me what to believe)
Not Yet a woman [I'm just trying to find the woman in me, yeah]
All I need is time (All I need is time)
A moment that is mine (That's mine)
While I'm in between2 Diving over and under the water she finally reached her favourite spot in the world - the cave behind the waterfall. For years she's gone there every single day, on every single occasion, and for the past four hundred and sixty two years she had spent at least an hour a day behind the falls. Four hundred and sixty two years wasn't long in an elf's life, mind you it's rather short, but Elendil was getting a little weary of Rivendell, although for the past few years she could never bring herself to admit it - even in her own mind, she knew she would soon have to. Perhaps one of the reasons she never told anyone of her thoughts was because she didn't want to hurt anyone, although she couldn't think of anyone that would greatly care for her troubles except for Elrond, she was quite pleased with her ability to hide her true feelings. "I'm not growing weary of Rivendell, I just want some adventure." She said trying to convince herself, watching a nearby moth. "But then again I know almost everything about this place, I can practically walk through it with my eyes closed." She argued herself. "But that doesn't mean anything, I just know my way around without tripping over a branch that's all." She rationed. "But it's so boring here, why can't I go to Lorien or something?" she asked herself out loud. "Because you live here!" she argued back. Then she paused, realizing she was arguing with herself - out loud. "Why am I arguing with myself?" Sighing in frustration, she started twirling again, remembering that so many long years ago Gandalf had witnessed the first time she ever did it. Spinning up and up and up in the face she didn't notice as Ciron walked in. It was his birthday today, and for all that she knew he should have been off duty. On her birthdays she never did much, mind you her birthdays weren't the best days of her life. She always dreaded June 14th; it was like a curse instead of a blessing. She never forgot the moments of her life when she heard that her parents had fallen in battle. She had almost drowned, but her mind had subconsciously called Elrond for help. He had found her and saved her. "Elendil! Can you please stop spinning!" Ciron called snapping her from her daydream. "No!" "Stop spinning!" he called again looking up at her. "No!" She watched him pick up a rock. "Come down!" "No!" she screamed, and he pelted the rock at her, she easily avoided it and came down laughing. Ciron stood, hands at his hips and looked at her sardonically. "Thank you." She smiled and smirked "You're welcome." She said sweetly. "Shut up." He shot back starting to walk out of the cave towards the opposite side of the Shooting Hills where all the other elves lived. "It's your birthday today." She said walking up the steps with wet feet. "How nice of you to notice." He commented, nodding at an elf. "Isn't it? In fact it's so nice that I thought you might want something." She hinted, helping out an elf with his flowers. "Oh really?" he asked as they continued to walk side by side down the straight stone path "Yep." She answered pausing to show the elf how to properly water her flowers. "You need to water from the top, it'll be healthier if you do." She explained sweeping her straight long black hair behind her shoulders. The elf thanked her and they went on their way. "It's nice of you to help." He observed. She nodded, "Yea well, I like helping. Besides, I like flowers." She answered. "I know you do." He smiled. "Well never mind that, I have to show you something birthday boy." She grabbed his hand and ran forward. Five minutes later they arrived at the Great Hall and Ciron was out of breath. "How can you run so fast?" he gasped, hand flat against his chest. "Huh? I don't run fast." She joked, knowing full well that along with her lovely spinning gift, she could out run most elves. He looked at her with an expression that said 'if-I-could-I-would' and she knew better then to taunt him even more. "Anyways," she began turning her back to him and reaching for a huge box. "Happy birthday Kee." She said handing it to him. He opened the box to reveal a brand new sword. The hilt had a single crystal in the center that shone in the sunlight. "Wow." He breathed, looking up and down the sword. "Thank you so much." He whispered under his breath. "No problem, it's the least I can give you for picking me off the lake's bottom." She smiled. He gave her a huge monstrous hug and laughed. After conversation about how she got the sword (delivered and specially made) he ran to tell his friends. The day carried on rather peacefully, and Elendil spent most of the afternoon with fellow elves singing and laughing. She learned a new way of watering flowers, and she was in a very good mood, until dinner that is. After she ate Elrond called for her in his room, and she had a sinking feeling that it wasn't something good. Slowly she walked up the stairs that lead to their section of rooms. "Tee." His voice came as she entered his room. "Yes?" she answered standing by the doorframe. "Is there something you wish to tell me?"
Elrond looked at her standing by his door, she was nervous and frightened. She didn't show it, but he could sense it. Over the years he had grown to love Elendil as if she were his own daughter. Bright, determined, loving, hysterically funny and strong, she charmed everyone she met, but Elrond had known she would a long time ago. She loved him very much and was never afraid to show it, but as time passed, he know that time would come when Elendil would want to leave and dwell with her Grandmother Galadriel in Lorien. Days and nights crept by and each day he saw the influence she had on her people. She played with them, talked to them, she gave them hope and support and they were all thankful. She was liked by all who lived in his realm, and she rarely gone a day without being seen by his side. There was one thing that she did not know about, she knew none of her relatives. She had always thought that Elrond was her only family. He suspected that she knew something about Galadriel from her readings, but she didn't know that Arwen and Aragorn where her cousins. All her years here, she knew everything of it. Everything Elrond knew so did she; she consumed knowledge so quickly he could barely keep up. Everyday she tended to the gardens and everyday she would tell him something about one of the plants. She took care of the steeds, her people, her friends, herself, and most of all, him. She put him first in her life, she always did as he bid and when she questioned something he always answered with honesty. As much as she loved him, he knew that her desire for adventure never wavered, for her skill with weaponry was too great to be wasted away in Rivendell. She never asked Elrond for permission to leave; instead she practiced and read everyday. The longer she stayed, the more she knowledge and power she gained, but he noticed that she only spent quality time with him and Ciron, while she talked to everyone there were very few who actually knew her. "It's Ciron's birthday today." She said, true to her fashion of avoiding confrontation. "I know." He looked at her again, studying her face. There was only one reason he knew what was going through her mind. They had a bond, one that even he couldn't explain, but it was there and that enabled him to understand her. It was only in this circumstance though, that he knew what she was thinking. The pieces went together like a bow and an arrow. He looked at her again and she seemed to regain her confidence. "No, there's nothing." He raised an eyebrow, "Alright." She smiled, "Well, see you at dinner." He watched her leave, wondering when she would come clean. "Master Elrond?" came a voice. "Yes Erestor?" he asked turning to face the chief of his own counselors. "Urgent news. Follow me." He quickly followed him and was led to the entrance of his realm. There, five elves had pale faces and sorrow-filled eyes. He looked at each one of the elves, finally realizing they were Rivendell's own. "He has been found Master Elrond. We found him near the borders of Mordor." Erestor said. He let out a sharp hiss. Amolas had been found, but what was he doing by Mordor? Amolas entered his world because of Arwen. She had befriended him, but that was in the nature of elves and especially Arwen. He had stumbled into his grounds and Arwen had kept him company, but he thought her company was something more serious. So naturally when she told him he thought wrong, he went crazy, accusing her of leading him on when he knew that her heart rested with Aragorn. He had threatened Arwen, threatened to kill her, he had even threatened to kill Elrond and the expression and seriousness on his face gave Elrond something to fear. "And?" he prompted crossing his arms. "We followed him for six days Master Elrond." One of the elves said, looking very tired. Elrond nodded, "Come, we will discuss this over dinner." Sitting at the dinner table with Elendil on his left, he could see colour return to their faces. He turned to Elendil, "You may leave now. I have a few matters to discuss." He said trying to sound calm. She looked at him with a puzzled expression but followed his orders, "Okay, talk to you later." Elrond watched her leave, dread coming over him. "Well," he started placing his hands on the arm rests, "proceed." "We saw him our third day out, but he seemed fine. Peaceful. Then he traveled to Angmar, and we knew that he must be under some kind of spell, but he emerged with no trace of beating, or emotional harm. In fact he looked happy. Then he made way to Mordor. and Master Elrond, I fear that evil still lurks there. The air is so foul and thick nothing could penetrate it. We had to watch from a distance. But Amolas did not seem to be affected; he just walked straight to the doors. They opened, and he stepped in. but there was nothing behind those doors Master Elrond. Nothing, it was dark and for the next days we only saw traces of him, a shadow, a lining of blonde hair. but nothing more. After that we came back, but I fear there is still something evil that lurks behind those doors." One elf said. His heart was beating a mile a minute there was no way. No. That cannot be possible. Or could it? Sauron was destroyed when the ring was thrown into the cracks of Mount Doom, but he could. yes he could relive through someone else. But why would Amolas go there? He was an elf, pure and desired love more then pain. "Thank-you very much. Rest now, your minds will not be troubled." He said faintly to the elves. Letting his feet take over his head, Elrond thought of nothing but Arwen. Would she be in danger? Would he try to hurt her again? But what business did he have going to Mordor? There would be no way to warn Arwen, at least not quickly enough. Besides, he didn't want to worry her, she was leading a happy life, even if it was a mortal one, she was happy. With such clouded thoughts, he never realized that his feet had stopped moving and that he was looking out across Rivendell, and the skies above crackled with thunder. "Erestor." He said, more to himself but the elf had been right around the corner. "Yes?" "Send word to Arwen, ask her how she is, ask of the weather in Gondor, the mood, anything that pertains to a normal day, ask her of it." He said as a huge stroke of thunder cracked through the skies. "Yes Master Elrond." He turned to leave. "Erestor," his voice came out stretched and tired, "Do not mention anything of your findings, nor of any of my suspicions." He nodded, "Yes," he paused. "Suspicions, of danger or foolishness?" Elrond sighed, and drew into shelter from the oncoming storm, "Both." Erestor nodded quickly and nearly ran down to have the message delivered. Elrond sat down on a beautifully carved chair and witnessed the rain pouring down and the elves scurrying to find cover. He studied five elves straight in his line of vision. They were running around like crazy in the rain, but no one was running for shelter, they were just running around, laughing, jumping in puddles. His thoughts ventured back to Arwen, she never jumped in puddles or anything of the sort, but she had fun, her life was filled with obstacles and she had overcome them all so gracefully and whole- heartedly that his whole being had actually ached when she left. His sight overruled again and he saw that there were now only two elves left, they were splashing water at each other, jumping up and down trying to tackle each other to the ground. Their arms were extended out with their hands resting on each other's shoulders, pushing and kicking and trying to get the other one to fall first, quite curious at what would happen next he watched with more interest. After a little while of tackling, one of the elves seemed to get bored and broke away running, laughing the other elf behind what he made out to be a female elf with a bunch of hair splattered all over her face ran after her. He followed the two for a while, watching them weave in and out of the various obstacles on their way and they both disappeared behind a large tree. With a look at the sky and coming to the conclusion that there would be no let up from the rain, he got up from his seat and his thoughts went back to Arwen, his daughter, Evenstar of her people and Elendil's cousin. Something he was sure to tell her, when the time was right. He walked along the edge of the steps right under the roof sheltering the rain. He descended down the steps and made way to the garden then BAM! "Excuse-" he started out putting his hands at his hips, but he got knocked into by the female elf. "Excuse me." he tried again before being knocked back again. "Gotcha!" said the female elf in a voice that sounded triumphant. He had it, "Excuse me!" he said sharply. The face matted with wet hair and the elf on the ground whose face was covered with dirt looked up. The girl started to laugh hilariously and that just got him even angrier. "Listen! Next time you are carrying about your joyful activities, try not to include me in the part of pushing." He said sternly looking down at the two elves. "Sorry Elrond," said the girl getting up and helping the other to his feet, "I just thought you'd want to have some fun. After all when do you get a rainy day that you can dance around in?" she asked revealing her identity by removing the wet hair that was plastered to her face. "Tee." He responded in disbelief. She erupted into giggles again and he realized that the mud-covered elf was Ciron. "We won't include you in our pushing games anymore." She laughed giving him a playful punch on the arm. "Good, I would like to remain clean if you two do not mind." He said with a smile. "We know, we know." Ciron said trying to remove some of the mud. "We're going to get cleaned up, well mind you I'm just going to jump in the water." Elendil said predictably. "Alright, but straight to bed after." He called after her as she and Ciron ran down to the water. Watching the two run down to the waterfront gave him a feeling of joy, but it was quickly replaced with pain. She's such a beautiful girl, she does not deserve any major difficulties in life, but it is always that that do. and that scares me. I do not want her to suffer any pain, but I know she will, we all will. Some just deserve it more than others, and it is always those who end up with a smooth ride through life. Then there were some who had a change of heart, who were raised with dark hearts but changed in the end. Ciron was one of them, a long time ago. Back when darkness was still on Middle-earth his heart was the same, he had a turbulent past filled with violence, agony, fear. Killing whomever got in his way that he hated, trampling on flowers, crushing moths with his bare hands, but all was due to his father Harper. His father had ties with the Dark Elves, those who had not seen the Light of Valinor lived in darkness, and Ciron had killed only because it was an outlet for his anger, he was in despair and he had longed for the feeling of joy, or happiness, for someone to love and care for him. When he had told his father of this, he had been cast from his home. He was found by some of the elves from Rivendell and was brought back. At first he was hesitant, he didn't react well to the surroundings and refused Elrond when help was offered. Slowly but surely he came around, allowing Elrond to help him and aid him in his emotional pain. Arwen had been his companion for quite some time, and he was just as cheerless as Elrond when she departed, but all was better now as Elendil illuminated more energy then the two of them together could possibly hold. He saw Ciron walk his niece to the door of her room and with a quick hug they departed. He followed Ciron until his figure disappeared into the darkness. He sighed, so much darkness he had suffered, and if anything were to happen to Arwen, then there would be more darkness. But he hoped that Amolas would turn out like Ciron, and that maybe he had gone to Mordor only to remind himself there is more pain in the world then that of Arwen not loving him, because a lesson like that Elrond could not teach, but only hope that one would never experience. Elendil may never understand how it felt like to have the weight of the world on your shoulders, to have darkness as your only companion, but for her sake he was glad that she would never comprehend it. After a few days, he approached Elendil again, wondering if she would tell him the truth this time. "Tee," he called after finishing up on dinner. "Yes?" she inquired wiping off a few crumbs from her dress. "Are you sure there is nothing you wish to tell me?" he asked, left brow lifted. "Yep, you know that bread was really good, I'm going to go get-" "What is it that you insist on hiding?" he broke her off. Elendil sighed, "It's nothing big, I just." she trailed off. She looked around slightly, with darting eyes and wet lips from too much licking - she was nervous. It was the usual routine that she exercised every time her nerves took over, but there was also something else there. She seemed to be scared also, almost as if she would run out of the room. "It's just that well, I've been here for a long." she started, and her nerves picked up, but he made no move to comfort her, she would have to let it out herself. "I've always wanted to go somewhere, to Lorien, to Gondor, anywhere. I want to go somewhere. I've been in Rivendell for four hundred and sixty two years, and if you ask me that's a little long." She blurted out, and as soon as the last word escaped her lips, her hand flew up as if to protect it. Slowly, her eyes fixed on him her hand parted to reveal the words, "but I won't dare go unless you say I can." He opened his arms and she ran and fell into them. Looking on top of her head, he thought of his Arwen in Gondor with her husband, Arwen who would be gone from him soon because of her choice to be a mortal. She yearned for adventure, but would give it up if he told her not to. Did she really love him that much? "Why is that?" he asked her as she stepped back. "Because. I can't go if you don't want me to. You're not going to be happy, you're going to be mad if I leave, and I don't want to make you mad or sad or whatever other feeling someone feels when someone leaves them. Besides who's going to love me when I leave am I supposed to love?" He laughed, "Many will love you, and you will love them in return." She huffed, "I doubt that." "I do not, now off to bed." He told her. "Alright." She nodded placing a kiss on his cheek, "Night." "Good night." He corrected her. "Good night." She corrected herself with no emotion. Watching her plod out of the Great Hall, he wondered about his own thoughts from a few nights before, Elendil may never understand how it felt like to have the weight of the world on your shoulders, to have darkness as your only companion, but for her sake he was glad that she would never comprehend it. But now it looked as if she did, although he wasn't completely certain as to why, there was defiantly an emotional girl under those long locks of dark, almost black hair. Perhaps her duration in Rivendell was putting the weight on her shoulders, perhaps she was just tired, but that seemed very unlikely. Elendil Alcawen was never tired, she had enough vigor to set a fire, a hundred fires, and that was what she was to him when he thought of Arwen and the shadows that could consume her. Elendil was her people's Ray of Light, and it fitted well because that was what she gave him in hard times, she had pulled him from such severe emotional pain that he often wondered how he would have made it without her, or if he would have made it at all. But she had to be her own light, and perhaps what frightened him most about her was that she would rather save others over herself. There were times when she would outright tell him that she would sacrifice her own life to save someone else's, all depending who it was of course, and when he asked her if she would do it if the one she was sacrificing her life for would never return the favor, her answer was yes. He clearly heard her voice when answering that question: "Because they pray for a savior, and believing is the most important thing. Everyone needs an angel." 2 Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman