I travelled around, to the south of the White Mountains, and then to the
far west, to where Beleriand was of old, west of the Blue Mountains,
before it disappeared into the sea. Then I began the long journey back to
Rivendell, which I missed.
I travelled along the Great East Road, towards Bree. As I passed just south of Hobbiton, I was shocked to find three child-like creatures fall off the verge to my left, and roll near enough straight under Enya. She reared, and turned on her back feet so she did not crush their heads when she landed. I dismounted quickly, and checked them over. They were stunned, but none the worse for wear.
"Beg pardon, Lady." One of them, the oldest, said. I smiled.
"You have it." At my words the elder frowned. "You don't know Gandalf, do you?" he asked me.
"I do," I said with a laugh. "What is your name?"
"I am Bilbo Baggins. This is my nephew Frodo Baggins, and his miscreant friend, Meriadoc Brandybuck." I curtsied.
"I am Lady Jané, and forgive my ignorance, but, what are you?" I asked plainly.
"We, dear lady, are hobbits." The youngest drew himself up to his full height, which barely reached my waist.
"Well, I am very pleased to meet you, and –get off the road!" I hissed. I spun, and the earth seemed to spin with me. Frodo and Meriadoc scrambled off the road and under the jutting tree root of a roadside tree, but Bilbo simply looked around.
"Whatever is the matter?" he asked. I grabbed him by the back of his collar and tossed him off the road. He scrambled under the root, and I climbed back onto Enya. Only just in time.
A dark cloaked rider approached on an armoured black horse, which had red eyes.
"Ring!" it hissed. Enya stamped, but didn't move.
"Be gone." I said. "I have no ring, as you well know." He reached out an armoured hand, and pain arched through me. But I sat proud. "Be gone. There is nothing for you here." I repeated. Its horse reared and it screamed, and then it rode past me in a swirl of wind and black robes.
The hobbits emerged from the tree root, pale and shaken. They did not protest as I took Frodo, and Bilbo's heads in my hands and brushed away their memories of the rider. I nearly did Meriadoc's, but his mind was so young, I feared its harm, so I let it stay, only buried it deep. Then I sent them home, and told them to speak nothing of this episode. Then I rode hard and fast with barely a rest until I came to the fair city of Rivendell, where I saw again my Ada, and told him all.
Three days later, I was once again sitting on Enya, getting ready to ride to Denarssa.
"Ride hard and fast." Elrond told me. "No matter what the law about returning to Denarssa, Andel needs to know." I nodded.
"Farewell, Ada." I said. He smiled at the name, which was more a nickname now than an endearment.
"Farewell." He called as I sped away from Rivendell.
I arrived at Denarssa two days later after hard riding. When I came to cave like entrance, I found the guards gone. I slipped from Enya and walked quickly and silently down the tunnel until I came out I came out on the grassy area before the entrance of the city, which was now ruined.
As I gazed around in horror, I heard a scream, and saw a very young girl being pursued by an orc, who was playing with her, as a cat plays with a mouse. He stopped dead when he found an elven blade in his stomach and looked up to see a much older woman standing before him than the one he had been chasing. The orc laughed harshly.
"Your majesty." He coughed, then he slumped. I wiped my blade on the grass, and turned to the little girl.
"Are you alright?" I asked. "What is your name?"
"I'm Kera." The little girl gulped. "I'm alright."
"Where is your mother?" I asked, though I suspected.
"She's dead!" the girl began crying, and I scooped her into my arms. She couldn't have been more than two.
"What was her name?" I asked.
"Her name was Zelda." The little girl said with dignity. "She was Steward of Anorondor." She stumbled a little over the name, but looked at me with clear brown eyes.
"Is there anyone else in there alive?" I asked her sternly.
"No. I was hiding on the great rock, because there's this little dip on the top." Tears started welling up her eyes. "And I saw them chase everyone out, and they...they did horrible things to them and then killed them, like you killed him." She pointed at the fallen orc over my shoulder. I really didn't know what to do. Should I take Kera and leave, leaving any people left for certain death, or stay and check to see is Kera was right, putting both myself and her in danger.
"We should leave." Kera said quietly. "I know who you are, I dreamt about you. And I know who I'm going to be. But if we stay here we'll die. I saw it." Kera was deadly serious, and I nodded.
"Very well. Look one last time on Denarssa, Kera, because soon we will leave it behind and not return." She looked, then wriggled.
"Put me down." I did, and she ran over and kissed the wall. Then she ran back. I scooped her up and sat her on Enya. Then I swung up behind her, and we rode out through the tunnel, without looking back.
It took us five days to return to Rivendell, because Kera was often tired, and I did not want wear her out. When we finally did arrive, she stared around in wonder.
"So this is the elven city?" she asked, awe-struck.
"One of them." I said. I slid off Enya, then picked up Kera, who held onto my neck. Enya trotted off to the stables. "Come, you should meet Ada." I began walking to the main building, still holding Kera.
"Who's Ada?" she asked.
"His name is really Elrond, but I call him Ada. It means father."
"He's your father?" Kera asked, wide eyed.
"No, I'm not. But Jané has always called me that." Kera jumped, and I turned. "Welcome back, Jané. Who is your friend?"
"I'm Kera, and I'm the only one left from Anorondor." Elrond looked at me.
"I did not check. But Kera says she saw her mother killed, and she's the newest, and probably the youngest, Steward of Anorondor. I was reluctant to risk our lives looking through an orc infested city for someone who might yet be alive." Elrond nodded.
"It would have been unwise to risk both the lines of Anorondor. Very well." I put Kera down and she held onto my hand. Elrond looked at our clasped hands and smiled. "I will have the rooms beside yours prepared for Lady Kera." He said.
"Baths?" I asked hopefully. He laughed.
"Of course. I'll have them sent up immediately."
"Thank you Ada." I said.
"Thank you, Lord Elrond." Kera said with a little curtsey. Ada bowed solemnly to her.
"My pleasure, little one. If only Jané's manners matched yours." Then he turned and left.
"I like him." Kera said.
"I am glad. Come, and I shall show you my rooms, and we will see if we can find you something to wear."
As we walked down the hall, I heard someone call my name. I turned, and saw Arwen following behind me. "Arwen!" I exclaimed, smiling. "You are well?"
"I am, thank you. And who is your companion?" Kera curtsied again.
"I am Kera, of Denarssa." She said.
"Denarssa?" Arwen looked at me. "What happened?"
"The city was sacked by orcs. Kera here is the only survivor."
"You poor thing!" Arwen exclaimed. She bent to look Kera in the face. "I am Arwen, and I am very pleased to meet you." Arwen curtsied. Kera smiled, then tugged on my hand.
"I am tired, Jané." She said, leaning against my leg and putting her thumb in her mouth. I nodded and picked her up, and she rested her head on my shoulder. I kissed her little shoulder, and then continued to my room, Arwen beside me.
When I opened the door, I found two steaming baths by the fire, and two dresses laid out on the bed. One big enough for me that I had not seen before, and another small for Kera, that I recognised as one of my own when I had been Kera's age. Arwen made her excuses and left. I carefully woke Kera, who had fallen asleep in my arms.
"Mummy?" she asked.
"No, love, its Jané. But I'm going to give you a quick bath before you go to bed." I quickly undid Kera's clothes, and then lowered her into the bath. When she was clean, I dried her off, and dressed her in the shift that came with her dress. Then I laid her in my bed and tucked her in, and she fell asleep almost immediately. I quickly bathed and dressed, then stood by the window, looking out at the forests that surrounded Rivendell. Spring was blossoming everywhere, and I suddenly felt old. I was fifty five by this time, and looked in my late twenties.
A cool breeze came through the open window and ruffled my pale green silk skirt. I suddenly thought I could see time passing, very quickly, seeing an older woman with curling brown hair and Kera's brown eyes lean over a bed. See Legolas pacing outside a bedchamber, looking worried. See Arwen leave Rivendell, bound for Valinor. And see the White City crumble as Denethor watched. I wrenched myself away, looking back at the young Kera as though to check she was still only two years old, not in her twenties as I had seen her moments ago.
There was a quiet knock on the door and Elrond walked in, and joined me at the window, glancing at Kera as he passed.
"You are a born mother." He said softly.
"I've had practise." I murmured back. He took my hand and led me into the adjacent room, where there were two chairs sat facing each other, with a table to their side. Elrond sat and I followed suit, though my gaze was still drawn to the window.
"Where did you go?" he asked me. "Even by my standards you were gone for a while."
"I travelled around." I said simply. "You know I went to Lothlorien with Haldir, but then from there I travelled to Mordor, and on my way back I was brought to Mirkwood. Then I went on to Gondor and from there to the far west, through old Beleriand, and then back here, via the Shire."
"When did you find the time to act as a mother?" Elrond asked me.
"I spent some time in Gondor after I helped Finduilas birth Prince Faramir, her second son. I stayed for six years, and then left. I cared for Boromir while Finduilas was occupied with Faramir, and then for both boys when Finduilas faded and eventually died." Elrond bowed his head.
"You will stay?" he asked me finally.
"For Kera." I said. "But when she is old enough, I believe it will be time for me to leave again." Elrond nodded. "What do you see?" I asked. "For Kera, what do you see?" Elrond shook his head and sighed.
"She is young to be burdened with the Stewardship." Elrond simply said. "even though she has no duties, she has the title, and understands it. That puts the greatest burden on her shoulders."
"She said she knew me because she had dreamed of me." I said thoughtfully. "And before the orc died he called me majesty." Elrond looked startled. "Do you think they know? And how could he recognise me?" I asked.
"I do not think they know, although how that orc could have known is beyond my sight." Elrond said. There was silence between us for a while. "Great love, and great loss." Elrond said quietly. I looked at the door that separated the room we were in from the room where Kera slept. Then the door opened, and Kera padded in.
"Jané?" she asked. I turned.
"I am here, my love." I said, holding out my arms. She went into them, and I drew her onto my lap. "What is it?" I asked.
"I dreamt of horrible things." Kera mumbled.
"Tell us." I said encouragingly.
"It was all dark, and I could hear screaming, like there was at Denarssa." She started. "Then it was light again, at I was standing at this big tower, and it was very pretty, with lots of big trees, bigger than I'd ever seen. I looked up and saw the tower went really high, but when I looked back down, all the trees had been cut down, and there were big cracks in the earth, and fire and bangs were coming out of them." She shuddered, and I held her tightly in my arms.
"And then I was at the top of a big white city." She said softly, "Looking towards these big mountains under a red and black sky. And there were these black squares on the earth below me, which was very far down. And there were horns and bangs and clashes and the whole thing smelt of blood. And you were there, dressed in blue and gold, like the old queens used to be, and you were singing something. And then I saw a big yellow eye, and I screamed, because it scared me. Then I saw a big White Tree, only it was dead, and on fire too. Then I woke up." I nodded, and held her close, stroking her brown curls. I heard her breath even out as she fell asleep again on my chest. I looked up at Elrond.
"What do you think?"
"I think that that child has the gift of foresight." Elrond said, staring at her.
I travelled along the Great East Road, towards Bree. As I passed just south of Hobbiton, I was shocked to find three child-like creatures fall off the verge to my left, and roll near enough straight under Enya. She reared, and turned on her back feet so she did not crush their heads when she landed. I dismounted quickly, and checked them over. They were stunned, but none the worse for wear.
"Beg pardon, Lady." One of them, the oldest, said. I smiled.
"You have it." At my words the elder frowned. "You don't know Gandalf, do you?" he asked me.
"I do," I said with a laugh. "What is your name?"
"I am Bilbo Baggins. This is my nephew Frodo Baggins, and his miscreant friend, Meriadoc Brandybuck." I curtsied.
"I am Lady Jané, and forgive my ignorance, but, what are you?" I asked plainly.
"We, dear lady, are hobbits." The youngest drew himself up to his full height, which barely reached my waist.
"Well, I am very pleased to meet you, and –get off the road!" I hissed. I spun, and the earth seemed to spin with me. Frodo and Meriadoc scrambled off the road and under the jutting tree root of a roadside tree, but Bilbo simply looked around.
"Whatever is the matter?" he asked. I grabbed him by the back of his collar and tossed him off the road. He scrambled under the root, and I climbed back onto Enya. Only just in time.
A dark cloaked rider approached on an armoured black horse, which had red eyes.
"Ring!" it hissed. Enya stamped, but didn't move.
"Be gone." I said. "I have no ring, as you well know." He reached out an armoured hand, and pain arched through me. But I sat proud. "Be gone. There is nothing for you here." I repeated. Its horse reared and it screamed, and then it rode past me in a swirl of wind and black robes.
The hobbits emerged from the tree root, pale and shaken. They did not protest as I took Frodo, and Bilbo's heads in my hands and brushed away their memories of the rider. I nearly did Meriadoc's, but his mind was so young, I feared its harm, so I let it stay, only buried it deep. Then I sent them home, and told them to speak nothing of this episode. Then I rode hard and fast with barely a rest until I came to the fair city of Rivendell, where I saw again my Ada, and told him all.
Three days later, I was once again sitting on Enya, getting ready to ride to Denarssa.
"Ride hard and fast." Elrond told me. "No matter what the law about returning to Denarssa, Andel needs to know." I nodded.
"Farewell, Ada." I said. He smiled at the name, which was more a nickname now than an endearment.
"Farewell." He called as I sped away from Rivendell.
I arrived at Denarssa two days later after hard riding. When I came to cave like entrance, I found the guards gone. I slipped from Enya and walked quickly and silently down the tunnel until I came out I came out on the grassy area before the entrance of the city, which was now ruined.
As I gazed around in horror, I heard a scream, and saw a very young girl being pursued by an orc, who was playing with her, as a cat plays with a mouse. He stopped dead when he found an elven blade in his stomach and looked up to see a much older woman standing before him than the one he had been chasing. The orc laughed harshly.
"Your majesty." He coughed, then he slumped. I wiped my blade on the grass, and turned to the little girl.
"Are you alright?" I asked. "What is your name?"
"I'm Kera." The little girl gulped. "I'm alright."
"Where is your mother?" I asked, though I suspected.
"She's dead!" the girl began crying, and I scooped her into my arms. She couldn't have been more than two.
"What was her name?" I asked.
"Her name was Zelda." The little girl said with dignity. "She was Steward of Anorondor." She stumbled a little over the name, but looked at me with clear brown eyes.
"Is there anyone else in there alive?" I asked her sternly.
"No. I was hiding on the great rock, because there's this little dip on the top." Tears started welling up her eyes. "And I saw them chase everyone out, and they...they did horrible things to them and then killed them, like you killed him." She pointed at the fallen orc over my shoulder. I really didn't know what to do. Should I take Kera and leave, leaving any people left for certain death, or stay and check to see is Kera was right, putting both myself and her in danger.
"We should leave." Kera said quietly. "I know who you are, I dreamt about you. And I know who I'm going to be. But if we stay here we'll die. I saw it." Kera was deadly serious, and I nodded.
"Very well. Look one last time on Denarssa, Kera, because soon we will leave it behind and not return." She looked, then wriggled.
"Put me down." I did, and she ran over and kissed the wall. Then she ran back. I scooped her up and sat her on Enya. Then I swung up behind her, and we rode out through the tunnel, without looking back.
It took us five days to return to Rivendell, because Kera was often tired, and I did not want wear her out. When we finally did arrive, she stared around in wonder.
"So this is the elven city?" she asked, awe-struck.
"One of them." I said. I slid off Enya, then picked up Kera, who held onto my neck. Enya trotted off to the stables. "Come, you should meet Ada." I began walking to the main building, still holding Kera.
"Who's Ada?" she asked.
"His name is really Elrond, but I call him Ada. It means father."
"He's your father?" Kera asked, wide eyed.
"No, I'm not. But Jané has always called me that." Kera jumped, and I turned. "Welcome back, Jané. Who is your friend?"
"I'm Kera, and I'm the only one left from Anorondor." Elrond looked at me.
"I did not check. But Kera says she saw her mother killed, and she's the newest, and probably the youngest, Steward of Anorondor. I was reluctant to risk our lives looking through an orc infested city for someone who might yet be alive." Elrond nodded.
"It would have been unwise to risk both the lines of Anorondor. Very well." I put Kera down and she held onto my hand. Elrond looked at our clasped hands and smiled. "I will have the rooms beside yours prepared for Lady Kera." He said.
"Baths?" I asked hopefully. He laughed.
"Of course. I'll have them sent up immediately."
"Thank you Ada." I said.
"Thank you, Lord Elrond." Kera said with a little curtsey. Ada bowed solemnly to her.
"My pleasure, little one. If only Jané's manners matched yours." Then he turned and left.
"I like him." Kera said.
"I am glad. Come, and I shall show you my rooms, and we will see if we can find you something to wear."
As we walked down the hall, I heard someone call my name. I turned, and saw Arwen following behind me. "Arwen!" I exclaimed, smiling. "You are well?"
"I am, thank you. And who is your companion?" Kera curtsied again.
"I am Kera, of Denarssa." She said.
"Denarssa?" Arwen looked at me. "What happened?"
"The city was sacked by orcs. Kera here is the only survivor."
"You poor thing!" Arwen exclaimed. She bent to look Kera in the face. "I am Arwen, and I am very pleased to meet you." Arwen curtsied. Kera smiled, then tugged on my hand.
"I am tired, Jané." She said, leaning against my leg and putting her thumb in her mouth. I nodded and picked her up, and she rested her head on my shoulder. I kissed her little shoulder, and then continued to my room, Arwen beside me.
When I opened the door, I found two steaming baths by the fire, and two dresses laid out on the bed. One big enough for me that I had not seen before, and another small for Kera, that I recognised as one of my own when I had been Kera's age. Arwen made her excuses and left. I carefully woke Kera, who had fallen asleep in my arms.
"Mummy?" she asked.
"No, love, its Jané. But I'm going to give you a quick bath before you go to bed." I quickly undid Kera's clothes, and then lowered her into the bath. When she was clean, I dried her off, and dressed her in the shift that came with her dress. Then I laid her in my bed and tucked her in, and she fell asleep almost immediately. I quickly bathed and dressed, then stood by the window, looking out at the forests that surrounded Rivendell. Spring was blossoming everywhere, and I suddenly felt old. I was fifty five by this time, and looked in my late twenties.
A cool breeze came through the open window and ruffled my pale green silk skirt. I suddenly thought I could see time passing, very quickly, seeing an older woman with curling brown hair and Kera's brown eyes lean over a bed. See Legolas pacing outside a bedchamber, looking worried. See Arwen leave Rivendell, bound for Valinor. And see the White City crumble as Denethor watched. I wrenched myself away, looking back at the young Kera as though to check she was still only two years old, not in her twenties as I had seen her moments ago.
There was a quiet knock on the door and Elrond walked in, and joined me at the window, glancing at Kera as he passed.
"You are a born mother." He said softly.
"I've had practise." I murmured back. He took my hand and led me into the adjacent room, where there were two chairs sat facing each other, with a table to their side. Elrond sat and I followed suit, though my gaze was still drawn to the window.
"Where did you go?" he asked me. "Even by my standards you were gone for a while."
"I travelled around." I said simply. "You know I went to Lothlorien with Haldir, but then from there I travelled to Mordor, and on my way back I was brought to Mirkwood. Then I went on to Gondor and from there to the far west, through old Beleriand, and then back here, via the Shire."
"When did you find the time to act as a mother?" Elrond asked me.
"I spent some time in Gondor after I helped Finduilas birth Prince Faramir, her second son. I stayed for six years, and then left. I cared for Boromir while Finduilas was occupied with Faramir, and then for both boys when Finduilas faded and eventually died." Elrond bowed his head.
"You will stay?" he asked me finally.
"For Kera." I said. "But when she is old enough, I believe it will be time for me to leave again." Elrond nodded. "What do you see?" I asked. "For Kera, what do you see?" Elrond shook his head and sighed.
"She is young to be burdened with the Stewardship." Elrond simply said. "even though she has no duties, she has the title, and understands it. That puts the greatest burden on her shoulders."
"She said she knew me because she had dreamed of me." I said thoughtfully. "And before the orc died he called me majesty." Elrond looked startled. "Do you think they know? And how could he recognise me?" I asked.
"I do not think they know, although how that orc could have known is beyond my sight." Elrond said. There was silence between us for a while. "Great love, and great loss." Elrond said quietly. I looked at the door that separated the room we were in from the room where Kera slept. Then the door opened, and Kera padded in.
"Jané?" she asked. I turned.
"I am here, my love." I said, holding out my arms. She went into them, and I drew her onto my lap. "What is it?" I asked.
"I dreamt of horrible things." Kera mumbled.
"Tell us." I said encouragingly.
"It was all dark, and I could hear screaming, like there was at Denarssa." She started. "Then it was light again, at I was standing at this big tower, and it was very pretty, with lots of big trees, bigger than I'd ever seen. I looked up and saw the tower went really high, but when I looked back down, all the trees had been cut down, and there were big cracks in the earth, and fire and bangs were coming out of them." She shuddered, and I held her tightly in my arms.
"And then I was at the top of a big white city." She said softly, "Looking towards these big mountains under a red and black sky. And there were these black squares on the earth below me, which was very far down. And there were horns and bangs and clashes and the whole thing smelt of blood. And you were there, dressed in blue and gold, like the old queens used to be, and you were singing something. And then I saw a big yellow eye, and I screamed, because it scared me. Then I saw a big White Tree, only it was dead, and on fire too. Then I woke up." I nodded, and held her close, stroking her brown curls. I heard her breath even out as she fell asleep again on my chest. I looked up at Elrond.
"What do you think?"
"I think that that child has the gift of foresight." Elrond said, staring at her.