EHAB here. To Leah: I'm sorry that we have confused you. If you have
specific questions, please ask, and we will attempt to answer them in the
next author note. Captain Oblivious: Sorry that this has taken so long to
answer. "Squee" is Legolas' pet name for Andrea because she is always
"squeaking, squealing, or squeezing something or someone" (see Chapter
Seven of "Wishes of Golden Chain"). Thank you to everyone who reviewed. And
now (drum roll) Chapter Three: Counsel of the Wise
Sivi was out on her balcony again; it was her favourite place in which to pray. She was deeply troubled this night, needing guidance from her Lord, an inspiration of what she should do next.
"Lord Jesus, thank You again for watching over us all. Thank You for not letting Legolas flip the car this morning. I never knew that it would be quite this dangerous to teach an Elf to drive... but that isn't really what I've come to ask You about. I'm sure that with Your help, they'll all learn in due time. God, I've got a lot on my mind tonight. Where should I start?
"Andrea is having dreams again, more frequently now and stranger. Usually her dreams forebode some new change, and both You and I know why that's true, even though she doesn't. I confess, I'm nervous about what they might mean. Yet that isn't what bothers me most. You see, Lord, she's confiding in ME. Well, and she's always confided in me, but she has a husband now. I wouldn't be worried that she's telling me these things if only she were telling Legolas, too, but she isn't. She's keeping her dreams and what she knows of her past secret from him, and he KNOWS it, and it hurts him, and I can see that it hurts him, even if he would never admit it to anyone. Why won't she trust him, Jesus? Does she simply not want to worry him? Is it just that she's not used to having him to go to? I don't understand, but You do. Please help her work through whatever pain she's facing and let them fight it together - with You, of course.
"God, I also feel... I don't know, skittish. I feel like her dreams ARE meant to foretell, and my subconscious agrees with whatever it is that they're trying to say. Someone's coming, something's going to happen, and it's going to be big. Lord, we just got THROUGH with an adventure, and I'm TIRED. I want to rest and spend time with my own husband. Still, I know that You are with us, and I'm sure that You will help us with whatever comes. Please give me strength, patience, and perseverance, as well as Grace to last the day. I love You, Lord. Please help me to love You more. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
She fell silent for a long moment. Suddenly, she began again.
"Lord Jesus, it's me again," she smiled. "I was wondering... I need... I need a woman to talk to, someone that I can confide in. Of course I confide in You, Lord, but I know that You understand that I need someone, not to take your place, but to help me listen for Your Will and understand what You would do in my situation. God, will You please help me to think of someone? Your Will be done, Lord. In Jesus' Name I ask these things, Amen."
All was quiet as she thought hard. After a while, she smiled.
"Thanks, God."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The phone rang about three times before Andrea groggily reached out to pluck it off of the receiver.
"Gummi bears," she stated matter-of-factly, and then hung up.
After a moment, the phone began to ring again, this time wakening Legolas, who sighed, readjusted his pajamas, and reached over Andrea to answer the phone.
"Legolas?" came Sivi's voice.
"Yes, Lady?" Legolas answered politely.
"I'm sorry to wake you up."
"Think nothing of it, Lady. You were obviously not going to rouse my wife, so I picked up the phone."
"Well, I shouldn't call so late, but I needed to ask you - what is Galadriel's phone, er, mirror number?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Galadriel was going to consult her mirror. There was an uneasiness in the world, a chill that had nothing to do with the sparkling autumn frosts. Something was watching her - it was not merely a vague premonition, the desire of mortal Men to glance hastily over their shoulders in shadowy corridors; no, someone was watching Galadriel and liked not what they saw. She could feel their malice, jealousy, and ill-content directed specially at her. She was in their way and knew it to be so, and she trembled, for behind all of these shapeless emotions of her foe, she could discern an ancient and terrible might that was oddly familiar. Sauron had not been so strong as the resting, waiting power concealed behind this heavy veil. This felt far older and immeasurably more wicked.
As she descended the steps into her little dell, the mirror emitted a shrill, prolonged ring. So unsettled and deep in thought was the Elven Queen when the mirror rang, and so badly did it startle her, that the Lady of Light almost pulled a Squee. Her long-fingered hands flew to her alabaster throat, and her cobalt eyes reshaped themselves into what more closely resembled orbs than ovals. She collected herself quickly, ashamed.
"Hello?" she answered the mirror, flicking back a strand of glittering golden hair and approaching the silver basin.
"Lady of Light," Sivi said respectfully.
"Daughter of the Valar, is all well with thee?" Galadriel inquired.
"I... I have called to ask you for advice," Sivi said almost shyly.
"Then all is not well. How, now, that the Daughter of Varda asks my counsel, who am but a mere Elf?"
"A very good friend of mine once told me with much vehemence that there is no such thing as a 'mere Elf,' my Lady," Sivi grinned. "At any rate, nothing of cataclysmic importance has happened, or not yet, at least; I only wanted to talk to you about Andrea."
"She is happy with her prince?" Galadriel murmured curiously.
"O, of course! He is her 'Pretty One.' Yet she does - and herein lies my question - she does, in fact, keep some secrets from him, and I know that it bothers him. I think it bothers me still more," she added worriedly.
For a time, Galadriel made no answer. She curled her fingers just slightly beneath her beautifully shaped chin and stroked Nenya with her other hand. At length, she stirred herself with a stately tilt of her gilt head. Her deep eyes blinked reflectively at Sivi.
"Why?" she asked quietly.
"That's just it; I don't know why she won't tell him. She tells me because she has always told me everything-and anyway, I know more about Andrea than she knows herself, though that is not the point it. Does she just not want to bother him with these things, or can she not trust him, or is she just not used to having him there to talk to?"
"Certainly the matter deserves consideration," Galadriel agreed softly, "and to answer you, I think I should need to know a little more about the things that she refuses to impart to him, if you do not feel that that would be betrayal on your part. However, that was not my question."
"I apologize, Lady. Ask on."
"It is no matter for apology. I only meant why does it upset YOU?"
"Well, Lady, I - I am happy for Andrea. She has finally been able to find her prince. I am glad for her, and I do not like to see a conflict arise that may mar this beautiful thing that is their happiness."
"Indeed, we are careful for our friends' sake that they may not lose the treasure they so long have sought, and it is in some measure ours to help them guard it as friends, yet..." Galadriel paused.
"Say on, Lady; I listen," Sivi said respectful nod.
"Do you, then, feel responsible for their marriage?" Galadriel asked bemusèdly.
"Lady, let me think on this before I answer thee, for I understand that my words may be misconstrued... No, Lady," she replied after a pause, "I know that I cannot make their marriage either fail or succeed. I understand that it is theirs to shape their relationship together. Yet I do, in great measure, feel responsible for Andrea."
"Why?" Galadriel asked sedately. "Or, rather, in what way?"
"As a friend, of course, Lady, and as... Lady, forgive, I am not permitted to say, but I WILL say that I am almost wholly responsible for her in a sense that I am commanded not to impart to you."
"I see. Yet this responsibility is, in nature, a task given you, and not one that you have lain upon your own shoulders?"
"It is given to me, Lady, though gladly did I accept the duty."
"Can you tell me who gave it you?" Galadriel asked.
"The fourteen Valar together," Sivi replied, "but most especially Manwë my father and Ulmo his friend."
"Are you responsible for her mind, her body, or -?"
"I am responsible for keeping her body and her mind sound, but I am not responsible for her happiness. However, because she is my friend..." Sivi trailed off.
"Yes, I understand. If you ask my counsel, I will tell you that I do not think you should worry for your friend. In time, I believe she will understand that she can go to her husband with these secrets. Until then, it is a matter contained in their marriage. You cannot do much to assuage the hurts without being perceived as interfering."
"I appreciate your advice and will follow it," Sivi said. "Yet there is another matter I would discuss with you."
"Go on," Galadriel said with interest.
"Andrea has dreams," Sivi said, "and ever they come with greatest ferocity just before something momentous is to occur."
"And she is having them now?" Galadriel asked, a shiver pervading her body.
"She is, and further, I feel... a blackness."
"Yes," Galadriel said, the chills coming in waves, "it is felt here as well, by me especially. Something arises in might, yet wishes for now to remain concealed."
"What can we do?" Sivi queried urgently.
"In that I cannot counsel you. I do not know."
Sivi was out on her balcony again; it was her favourite place in which to pray. She was deeply troubled this night, needing guidance from her Lord, an inspiration of what she should do next.
"Lord Jesus, thank You again for watching over us all. Thank You for not letting Legolas flip the car this morning. I never knew that it would be quite this dangerous to teach an Elf to drive... but that isn't really what I've come to ask You about. I'm sure that with Your help, they'll all learn in due time. God, I've got a lot on my mind tonight. Where should I start?
"Andrea is having dreams again, more frequently now and stranger. Usually her dreams forebode some new change, and both You and I know why that's true, even though she doesn't. I confess, I'm nervous about what they might mean. Yet that isn't what bothers me most. You see, Lord, she's confiding in ME. Well, and she's always confided in me, but she has a husband now. I wouldn't be worried that she's telling me these things if only she were telling Legolas, too, but she isn't. She's keeping her dreams and what she knows of her past secret from him, and he KNOWS it, and it hurts him, and I can see that it hurts him, even if he would never admit it to anyone. Why won't she trust him, Jesus? Does she simply not want to worry him? Is it just that she's not used to having him to go to? I don't understand, but You do. Please help her work through whatever pain she's facing and let them fight it together - with You, of course.
"God, I also feel... I don't know, skittish. I feel like her dreams ARE meant to foretell, and my subconscious agrees with whatever it is that they're trying to say. Someone's coming, something's going to happen, and it's going to be big. Lord, we just got THROUGH with an adventure, and I'm TIRED. I want to rest and spend time with my own husband. Still, I know that You are with us, and I'm sure that You will help us with whatever comes. Please give me strength, patience, and perseverance, as well as Grace to last the day. I love You, Lord. Please help me to love You more. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
She fell silent for a long moment. Suddenly, she began again.
"Lord Jesus, it's me again," she smiled. "I was wondering... I need... I need a woman to talk to, someone that I can confide in. Of course I confide in You, Lord, but I know that You understand that I need someone, not to take your place, but to help me listen for Your Will and understand what You would do in my situation. God, will You please help me to think of someone? Your Will be done, Lord. In Jesus' Name I ask these things, Amen."
All was quiet as she thought hard. After a while, she smiled.
"Thanks, God."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The phone rang about three times before Andrea groggily reached out to pluck it off of the receiver.
"Gummi bears," she stated matter-of-factly, and then hung up.
After a moment, the phone began to ring again, this time wakening Legolas, who sighed, readjusted his pajamas, and reached over Andrea to answer the phone.
"Legolas?" came Sivi's voice.
"Yes, Lady?" Legolas answered politely.
"I'm sorry to wake you up."
"Think nothing of it, Lady. You were obviously not going to rouse my wife, so I picked up the phone."
"Well, I shouldn't call so late, but I needed to ask you - what is Galadriel's phone, er, mirror number?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Galadriel was going to consult her mirror. There was an uneasiness in the world, a chill that had nothing to do with the sparkling autumn frosts. Something was watching her - it was not merely a vague premonition, the desire of mortal Men to glance hastily over their shoulders in shadowy corridors; no, someone was watching Galadriel and liked not what they saw. She could feel their malice, jealousy, and ill-content directed specially at her. She was in their way and knew it to be so, and she trembled, for behind all of these shapeless emotions of her foe, she could discern an ancient and terrible might that was oddly familiar. Sauron had not been so strong as the resting, waiting power concealed behind this heavy veil. This felt far older and immeasurably more wicked.
As she descended the steps into her little dell, the mirror emitted a shrill, prolonged ring. So unsettled and deep in thought was the Elven Queen when the mirror rang, and so badly did it startle her, that the Lady of Light almost pulled a Squee. Her long-fingered hands flew to her alabaster throat, and her cobalt eyes reshaped themselves into what more closely resembled orbs than ovals. She collected herself quickly, ashamed.
"Hello?" she answered the mirror, flicking back a strand of glittering golden hair and approaching the silver basin.
"Lady of Light," Sivi said respectfully.
"Daughter of the Valar, is all well with thee?" Galadriel inquired.
"I... I have called to ask you for advice," Sivi said almost shyly.
"Then all is not well. How, now, that the Daughter of Varda asks my counsel, who am but a mere Elf?"
"A very good friend of mine once told me with much vehemence that there is no such thing as a 'mere Elf,' my Lady," Sivi grinned. "At any rate, nothing of cataclysmic importance has happened, or not yet, at least; I only wanted to talk to you about Andrea."
"She is happy with her prince?" Galadriel murmured curiously.
"O, of course! He is her 'Pretty One.' Yet she does - and herein lies my question - she does, in fact, keep some secrets from him, and I know that it bothers him. I think it bothers me still more," she added worriedly.
For a time, Galadriel made no answer. She curled her fingers just slightly beneath her beautifully shaped chin and stroked Nenya with her other hand. At length, she stirred herself with a stately tilt of her gilt head. Her deep eyes blinked reflectively at Sivi.
"Why?" she asked quietly.
"That's just it; I don't know why she won't tell him. She tells me because she has always told me everything-and anyway, I know more about Andrea than she knows herself, though that is not the point it. Does she just not want to bother him with these things, or can she not trust him, or is she just not used to having him there to talk to?"
"Certainly the matter deserves consideration," Galadriel agreed softly, "and to answer you, I think I should need to know a little more about the things that she refuses to impart to him, if you do not feel that that would be betrayal on your part. However, that was not my question."
"I apologize, Lady. Ask on."
"It is no matter for apology. I only meant why does it upset YOU?"
"Well, Lady, I - I am happy for Andrea. She has finally been able to find her prince. I am glad for her, and I do not like to see a conflict arise that may mar this beautiful thing that is their happiness."
"Indeed, we are careful for our friends' sake that they may not lose the treasure they so long have sought, and it is in some measure ours to help them guard it as friends, yet..." Galadriel paused.
"Say on, Lady; I listen," Sivi said respectful nod.
"Do you, then, feel responsible for their marriage?" Galadriel asked bemusèdly.
"Lady, let me think on this before I answer thee, for I understand that my words may be misconstrued... No, Lady," she replied after a pause, "I know that I cannot make their marriage either fail or succeed. I understand that it is theirs to shape their relationship together. Yet I do, in great measure, feel responsible for Andrea."
"Why?" Galadriel asked sedately. "Or, rather, in what way?"
"As a friend, of course, Lady, and as... Lady, forgive, I am not permitted to say, but I WILL say that I am almost wholly responsible for her in a sense that I am commanded not to impart to you."
"I see. Yet this responsibility is, in nature, a task given you, and not one that you have lain upon your own shoulders?"
"It is given to me, Lady, though gladly did I accept the duty."
"Can you tell me who gave it you?" Galadriel asked.
"The fourteen Valar together," Sivi replied, "but most especially Manwë my father and Ulmo his friend."
"Are you responsible for her mind, her body, or -?"
"I am responsible for keeping her body and her mind sound, but I am not responsible for her happiness. However, because she is my friend..." Sivi trailed off.
"Yes, I understand. If you ask my counsel, I will tell you that I do not think you should worry for your friend. In time, I believe she will understand that she can go to her husband with these secrets. Until then, it is a matter contained in their marriage. You cannot do much to assuage the hurts without being perceived as interfering."
"I appreciate your advice and will follow it," Sivi said. "Yet there is another matter I would discuss with you."
"Go on," Galadriel said with interest.
"Andrea has dreams," Sivi said, "and ever they come with greatest ferocity just before something momentous is to occur."
"And she is having them now?" Galadriel asked, a shiver pervading her body.
"She is, and further, I feel... a blackness."
"Yes," Galadriel said, the chills coming in waves, "it is felt here as well, by me especially. Something arises in might, yet wishes for now to remain concealed."
"What can we do?" Sivi queried urgently.
"In that I cannot counsel you. I do not know."