All around Luthien, towering high and beautiful, were the pillars upholding great articulate structures. She was in Rivendell. And she was VERY happy about it. The elf, Rakael, gave Luthien an odd look when she squealed with delight. She felt at home…although, she to herself, I will feel so much more at home when I become princess of Mirkwood and am united with my arrow shooting, knife wielding, far-seeing, hottie elf.
They had reached Lord Elrond's chambers, and Rakael went inside first to announce the newcomer.
'Send her in.' she heard him say to Rakael as she leaned with her ear to the chamber door.
A few seconds later Rakael opened wide the large wooden and beautifully carven door and she stepped inside (or rather, she half-fell inside, but being an agile elf she recovered herself quickly enough to stop herself falling to the ground face-first). Looking around the large circular room at all the pictures and manuscripts Luthien was suddenly aware she was being watched.
Tall and powerful, Elrond stood before her in robes of midnight blue, and surveyed her with his piercing eyes. When he spoke, his voice gently echoed around the stone room, 'So Luthien, I see that you are interested in these events pictured on the walls. They tell the story of the founding of Rivendell and the peaceful lives of the elves that dwell here.'
Luthien found that she could not speak, unless the word 'gnah' can be found in the dictionary. Elrond continued.
'Rakael tells me that you know not where you came from,' he said and Lucy detected a trace of doubt in his voice, 'though you do not seem to be so troubled about such things now. What has brought you here to Rivendell, Luthien?'
Luthien finally found her voice, 'I have come here to find my friend, Elanor.'
'Elanor?' he said puzzled, 'I am afraid that there is no elf of that name who dwells now in Rivendell.'
'Well, that is…' she faltered, 'I am but passing through here. My road heads toward the Shire.'
'The Shire,' Elrond whispered, the interest in this new stranger evident in his voice, 'Do I assume correctly that your friend Elanor is a halfling?'
'Yes, and has been for many years now,' Lucy said truthfully.
'Strange' he muttered, half to himself, 'an elf and a halfling? That is an unusual friendship.'
'Yet that is what is has been for many years now,' Lucy said while trying to think up a wild story as quickly as possible, she couldn't really fool a well, really really old elven lord for long.
'And you say that you are passing through Rivendell by yourself? Have you no company?'
'I am just going to visit my friend,' she felt like she was talking to a father who was giving her the third degree about going out.
'Tell me, Luthien, how comes it that you do not know from where you came?'
Crap, she thought to herself, it would've been so much easier if I'd just been a hobbit. Stupid Elrond and his intense 'I can read your mi-nd' look. I must say though, for an older man, he ain¹t quite so bad- dear GOD! What am I thinking? I'm going slightly mad, I'm going slightly mad, and I'm singing Queen -ew! Why oh why didn't I just become a hobbit? Of course! My sweet Legolas … all that I live for and do is for my fair elfie-boy.
Yes, she said to herself resolutely, I shall go on for Him.
'Erm, my, is it hot in here?' she said thinking quickly, 'do you have any ice or something?'
'Rakael,' Elrond turned to the waiting elf (Luthien suddenly realised he was still in the room), 'will you go down to the kitchens and fetch a bowl of ice for our guest?'
Rakael bowed and left the room silently.
Lucy continued with her sudden decoy, 'Long have I desired to meet with thee, Lord Elrond of Rivendell, and hear thy words of great wisdom.'
'Greatly flattered am I to hear such news, especially from one so fair and mysterious as thee,' he added and gave her an odd look.
Luthien tried to look as pretty and elven as she possibly could as she smiled back at Elrond.
He was still watching her rather intent on something when Rakael returned with a bowl of ice. 'You may leave us now,' Elrond said to him though he did not turn away from Luthien's face. Rakael handed the bowl to Luthien and exited from the room.
Great, she thought to herself, I think Elrond's got a thing for me. Just great.
Picking up a leaf-shaped piece of ice she put it to her lips and let it smoothly roll against them. What choice do I have, she asked herself, as she smiled seductively at him and sat on the great four-posted bed in the centre of the room.
Instantly he was beside her and he placed her hand in his, 'We will not speak of such unnecessary things now,' he said and stroked her hair, 'For the elven Lords are skilled in many ways'
Luthien almost choked on the ice in her mouth. Can anyone say paedophile? She thought with disgust. He's like a zillion years old and he's he's cradle robbing! That's what he's doing! Urg!
'Tell me what it is that troubles your mind, my fair one, for thy voice is like music and fills me with a great feeling of forgotten times newly remembered.'
Oh, sure, like I haven't heard that one before, she thought bitterly. Hmm…what troubles my mind, well, let's see, um, a dirty old elf is about to attack me at any moment… aaand, I can't find my best friend and my Silvan prince is nowhere to be found.
Instead she said, 'I do not wish to bother you with my troubles as they hardly compare to your own, my lord.'
He frowned, 'What do you mean by this?'
'Only that which is obvious to thy all knowing mind, lord Elrond.' She answered, stalling.
'What do you speak of Luthien and answer me quickly I have no mind for riddles and silly games at present.'
'I speak of the dark times that now threaten to engulf all lands, lord Elrond,' she replied innocently, 'and it is not a puzzle to me that you do not speak lightly or indeed even at all, of such evil.' Heheh, she thought with satisfaction, Oh man I am so good at this elf-talk! I wish I could get this on tape. If only Elanor-
Elrond rising quickly from the bed and beginning to pace the room suddenly interrupted her thoughts. Luthien felt sorry for the ol' man and decided to change the subject.
'Lord,' she began, but he quickly interrupted her.
'It is true that my mind has been plagued often by the darkness in the East,' he said, 'and I must take council soon with chosen strangers from distant lands-' (Legolas! she thought with glee) 'among them will be Gandalf the Grey, whom I deeply desire to speak with…' He trailed off.
Typical men, Lucy thought to herself, one moment, they¹re all over you, the next, you don¹t exist. Humph!
'I have great faith in all the goodness of this world,' she told him, 'and in their alliance which will end all dark days for hundreds of years.' Definitely on a roll, she thought smugly to herself, I even have me convinced.
He sat down beside her again. 'Your words are filled not only with hope, but with belief, and that alone is encouraging,' he said and looked straight into her eyes.
She couldn't speak; his gaze held her in a state of complete dumbness and she could only look back at him. It felt like hours had passed when slowly he leant in towards her…
There was a gentle knock at the door.
Thank you my God! She thought with such a joy. She felt like singing as he swiftly rose and called in a dignified way, for them to enter.
'My apologies for the intrusion, Lord,' Rakael said as he entered and spotted Luthien sitting on the bed, singing happily to herself, "May it be an evening star, shines down upon you…"
'Well, what is it?' Elrond said rather grumpily.
'It's just that Gandalf wishes to let you know that he has just arrived, having escaped on a giant eagle from Isengard.' He said, quite uninterestedly.
'Very well,' said Elrond, 'I must see Gandalf immediately,' he said gently, turning to Luthien, 'you have my leave to stay in Rivendell as long as you wish and to pass through it whenever you desire, though,' he added, 'I hope we may yet continue our little council at a time when there will be no interruptions…'
Luthien smiled again at him, suppressing a shudder, and bowing low, she left the room.
'God, that was a close one,' she muttered to herself, 'but now what shall I do? I really like it here, but I expect that twit (she was referring to her much-loved best friend) has landed herself in the Shire. I should set out to find her, but won't the fellowship be arriving soon?'
Luthien quickly shut up when she past some rather hot elves and introduced herself.
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