Elrond was in the library, and he turned when he heard me come in.
"Ah, Jané, good. Sit." I sat, feeling nervous. I almost felt twelve again, when Elrond was reprimanding me for taking the clothes out of the bathing rooms when Aragorn and Legolas were taking baths, so they had to run to their rooms without an awful lot on. I realised I was twisting Legolas' ring around and around my finger, and I stopped.
"I don't know if you are aware," Elrond began, "but Prince Legolas is engaged." My jaw dropped open, and I quickly shut it again. So it was true. "His intended bride is the Lady Rayma, who I believe you know." I raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly.
"There is just something I need to know, if I am going to dissolve this engagement before it is too late." Elrond said. I raised my eyebrows quizzically. "How long have you two been lovers?" I was taken aback. As a rule, Elrond let my business stay my business, but this was...unexpected.
"Since just before...I fell ill. The love-curse." I elaborated. I tucked an errant strand of hair behind my ear, and Elrond's gaze fell to my left hand, which lay in my lap.
"And you would marry him?" He asked, looking pointedly at the ring, I looked down at it.
"I would, but for Mordor."
"As close to a marriage as you are able." Elrond guessed, and I nodded. "Then the engagement must be dissolved, since he cannot marry another if his heart is wedded to yours." I rose, sensing the conversation to be over. "By the way, where is your necklace? This is the first occasion in a long time that I have seen you without one."
"I gave the one I was wearing today to Legolas, as I had his ring." I answered. Elrond smiled his satisfied smile, and somehow I guessed that maybe he wasn't quite as displeased with us as he would have us think.
Outside the door, Rayma and Legolas waited. As I passed them, Legolas frowned, and I smiled reassuringly. Then he disappeared into the library. Rayma grabbed my arm.
"How does it feel," she hissed, "to lose your precious prince to me?"
"I wouldn't break out the wine just yet," I advised. "Not unless you plan to celebrate my wedding." I smiled and moved away, and though I did not look over my shoulder, I revelled in her outraged silence.
I saw Frodo, who I now recognised from near enough seventeen years ago, sitting alone in the gardens, half hidden from others view. I began to make my way over to him, but was waylaid by Boromir.
"My lady," he bowed. I curtsied back.
"Lord Boromir. Welcome to Rivendell. It is good to see you again."
"Indeed. You have not returned to Gondor of late."
"No. My travels kept me further north and west, at Rivendell and at Edoras." I did not mention Mirkwood, though I think he knew anyway.
"Quite."
"And how is Faramir, and Denethor?" I asked.
"Father withdraws ever further into himself, and Faramir strives for his praise in vain, as always."
"I heard you retook Osgiliath last year." I said. "It was very brave of you."
"It was more Faramir's plan that it was mine." Boromir said modestly. "Faramir thinks it up, I do it. Unfortunately, father has little praise for those stronger of mind than of body, and always it has been so with Faramir."
"Indeed." I nodded, remembering the boy that would rather read than train with a sword. Boromir looked over my shoulder.
"Excuse me, my lady." He said with a bow. I curtsied perfunctorily, and made my way over to where Frodo sat hidden.
"May I join you?" I asked. He nodded. He looked very small and lonely. "You are not oft without your companions." I commented. He sighed wearily.
"I needed peace."
"If I disturb you, I shall leave." I stood, but Frodo made a grab for my hand.
"Stay." I sat back down. "Do you know Mordor?"
"Some." I answered. "I was there for some months, although I did not see the country as well as possible."
"A great burden is upon me." He said heavily. I touched his shoulder.
"Be brave, Frodo." I said quietly. "Trust to your heart, not to the ring." He jumped away from me, his hand automatically going to the ring I had hung on a chain around his neck during his illness. It had called me then, but I had refused it.
"Do not come near!" He warned.
"Peace, Frodo." I said staring at my hands. "The ring called to me, but I refused it. We come from the same place, the ring and I, though we have different masters." Frodo slowly came and sat back down.
"It was you that tended my shoulder, was it not?" He asked.
"Myself and Lord Elrond." I answered. "It was I that hung the ring on a chain, lest it try to escape your pockets."
"Gandalf has explained it to me, and what it did." Frodo said with a sigh. He sat on his hands on the bench and swung his legs.
"It has almost a will of its own." I agreed, "and it will do much to return to its master." I took the silver and moonstone ring off my right forefinger, where Galadriel had placed it many years ago. "Here." I said, offering it to him. "Hang this beside it on the chain, and perhaps it might lessen your burden somewhat." Frodo did so, and almost immediately gave a sigh of relief.
"It helps, thank you." He stared off into space.
"What troubles you?" I asked gently, "Aside from the ring."
"Today...my Uncle Bilbo, you remember him from the road?" I was startled.
"I do, but how do you remember?"
"On the way here, my friends and I, we fell off the ridge, much as we did all those years ago, and a black rider came. And I remembered, because we were all hiding under the tree, and I half expected to hear someone saying there was nothing there, but the voice didn't come, and I realised it had happened before. That was just before we met Strider. Do you know him?"
"I do. He's my foster brother. What of your uncle?" Frodo looked disappointed that I had returned to the subject, and I considered letting it go, but he began talking before I could tell him to leave it.
"Uncle Bilbo gave me this vest of mithril he had, and his old sword, which he called Sting. But when I went to try on the vest, he saw the ring. And all of a sudden he went...peculiar, almost...I don't know. I wouldn't say evil, but it was...disturbing." I nodded.
"Gandalf said the ring can take hold of people, like the nine rings took hold of the men Sauron gave them to, and I hate to think...but I cant help but consider-"
"That the ring has a hold over your uncle?" I asked softly. Frodo nodded miserably. I touched his arm. "Do you fear it will take hold of you too?"
"I don't think I am strong enough to take it all the way to Mordor!" Frodo burst out.
"Hush." I said, drawing him to me. He leaned his head on my shoulder. "Frodo, this task has come to you, through fate, or chance, or whatever you may call it. It would not have done so if you were not strong enough to bear this burden."
"I wish this had never happened." He whispered.
"So do most, when such tasks are given to them. But you and they both must take up the tasks in both hands and hearts, that in the end all will be well." Frodo sat up, and looked me in the eye.
"It won't be easy for you either." He said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well, if Sauron is destroyed, it is up to you to rebuild the country, is it not?" he asked.
"How do you..." I trailed off. He flipped my hands so they were palms upwards.
"There is a story, a legend almost, of a lady who was queen in Mordor, who had suns just like these on her hands. We never believed it until we saw yours."
"One of the queens got to you, as well?" I asked. This was getting ridiculous.
"I think the story goes that she saved the shire from some people who were determined to ruin it...or something." He finished lamely. I smiled, and the chimes for dinner rang.
"Go on." I said, giving him a nudge. "Join your friends, and do not be too downhearted." He smiled at me, then jumped down from the bench. I went to get changed.
I was not terribly late for dinner, but everyone looked up as I came in, but I ignored them, walking straight to the high table, and to my seat beside Arwen.
"Nice dress. Why are you late?" She asked.
"I'm not!" I protested quietly, nodding thanks to a servant who filled my wineglass. "I'm just not early, is all. I was talking to one of the hobbits when the chimes went, and then I had to get changed because I had grass-stains on my dress."
"Ah." Arwen grinned and nodded, and ate, although I suspected there was more on her mind that she wanted to talk about.
She finally broke her patient silence when the servants were removing the second course.
"So." She said.
"So." I replied, taking a sip of my wine.
"So why is Rayma glaring at you like you're a Nazgûl in disguise and no one believes her when she tells them."
"Possibly because it might be true." I said, deliberately resting my chin on my left hand so the ring Legolas gave me could not go unnoticed by Arwen.
"Oh!" She exclaimed, her eyes lighting on the ring. "Oh. Oh." Each 'oh' had a different tone and meaning, describing surprise, understanding, then further understanding. I grinned. She grabbed my hand and scrutinised it.
"Do you know what this is?" She demanded of me.
"One of the heirlooms of Mirkwood?" I guessed.
"Exactly!" Arwen said. "It's a wedding ring, for Valar's sakes!"
"Oh. Well I knew that already." I said calmly, smiling at the servant girl who laid my plate before me.
"You what?" Arwen cried. She quickly lowered her voice. "You mean..."
"He asked me to marry him this morning, and I said I would that very moment if I could."
"Ah. Yes. The small problem of Anorondor." Arwen said, nodding in understanding.
"So Legolas put it on my middle finger, the closest I can get to marriage for the time being." Arwen nodded, taking a rather large sip of wine.
"And you gave him the ring from Galadriel?" She asked, pointing to my right forefinger where the silver and moonstone ring was missing.
"Actually, no. I gave him that little gold and topaz sun pendant I have. Not exactly a conventional promise gift, but I figured it wouldn't get in the way of archery as much as a ring would."
"So what happened to the ring from Galadriel?" Arwen asked.
"I gave it to Frodo. To try and help lighten his burden." Arwen nodded, apparently satisfied.
"He is small for such a burden." Arwen said. "Oh! I've just thought. I have something for you. It was to be a birthday gift, but...I'm not quite sure why I didn't give it to you. And I'm not sure why I thought of it now. Come with me to my room after dinner, and I'll give it to you. It was a gift to me, a long time ago, and I think it belongs with you."
I asked further, but Arwen would say no more, and I was left to ponder her words throughout dinner.
When I went to her rooms that night, she let me in, and I saw she had a piece of gold velvet laid out on her bed. When she unwrapped it, I saw two small shining silver throwing knives, engraved with rising suns and words in old Mordor.
"Straight and true." They both said.
"There was a queen, as I'm sure you know, called Isolde the Fair, who actually grew up here in Imladris. We were good friends." Arwen was silent for a moment, her hand tracing the outlines of the blades. "She taught me to throw knives, it was her speciality. When she died, she gave them to me."
"How did she die?" I asked.
"The love-curse killed her. She chose sanity, but did not forget her love and her care for her lover. He faded, for he believed she had been lost to him, and she died shortly after. Her daughter Eldiran was sent to Galadriel, who raised her as she raised Emria, many years before. Eldiran then moved to Mirkwood, where she lived until she died. She was three hundred, I believe, when she died. I believe Isolde would have wanted you, her great granddaughter to have these, and to return them to Mordor from whence they came." Arwen turned over the blades, and I saw the other inscription. On the first: "For victory the battle was fought, and for blood it was lost." And on the second blade: "One love is truer than many, and crueller also." I smiled.
"I know the sentiment." Arwen smiled at me, and pressed the two blades gently into my hands. They were perfectly balanced, deadly works of art.
"Thank you Arwen. It seems everyone has another part of my past to give me."
"Most of us do. The Queens of Mordor were widespread, and were wanderers, like the Númenor. You are no different."
"No." I murmured, staring down at the blades in my hands, and beyond them to the suns on my palms. "Not very."
*&*
The morning of the council, I was making my way to my room to fetch my cloak which masked me from most people, when I ran into a company of dwarves. I curtsied deeply, much as I would and did to royalty.
"Ah, my lady." One of the dwarves said. He had a grey beard, and looked old.
"My lord. Can I help you?" I asked politely, rising.
"We seemed to have lost our way."
"I am not unfamiliar with the realisation." I said with a kind smile. "Where are you going, and I shall do my best to aid you in getting there." The elderly dwarf bowed.
"We are much obliged to your help, my lady. We seek Lord Elrond, and his meeting."
"Ah. I can help you their, my lords. If you would, follow me please." I led them to the place of the council, and when we reached it, I curtsied. "There you are, my lords, and we are yet early."
"Your help is greatly appreciated." The elderly dwarf said, bowing low. "And your manners out do many of your kind. Not all elves are so polite."
"I must correct you, my lord." I said calmly. "I am no elf, though I grew up among them."
The dwarves chuckled. "You have exquisite bearing, my lady." The grey- bearded dwarf said with smile, and he bowed over my hand and kissed it. "Excuse us." I nodded, and the three dwarves entered the circle.
Now I had to hurry, or I would be late.
*&*
By the time I returned to the council place, most of the places were filled. I saw on the wall, careful that I was completely covered by the cloak, and the veil that matched the cloak fell over my face.
The council was truly a council of folk. There were elves, men, dwarves, and the hobbit, Frodo, although I could see the other three of his companions lurking in the shadows.
Of the people present, I knew only a few. Aragorn, Boromir, the three dwarves, Legolas, Gandalf, Frodo and myself. There were others there – two other elves, and at least one other man, not counting the three other hobbits.
The council started calmly. Frodo placed the ring on the table in the centre of the circle, and I immediately felt its pull. Frodo sat sunken in his chair as though he had no wish to be here, which I doubted he had.
As the council progressed, all went well until Boromir suggested using the ring against Sauron. I could hear Denethor's words in Boromir's suggestion, and as the tone and mood of the council escalated; I could bear no more. Throwing off my cloak, I rose.
"Be silent." I said, using the 'voice of power' I had been taught at Denarssa. Everyone fell silent instantly. "Prince Boromir, you cannot use this. None of us can. The only option is to destroy it." Boromir sent me a dirty look.
"And what would you know of it?" He demanded. My patience broke.
"Sit down and stop being a silly boy, Boromir!" I snapped. I immediately regretted it, but I couldn't stop now without being laughed out of the council. Boromir sat in his chair, glaring at me. If looks could kill...
"The ring wants to return to its master. Once Sauron has the ring he will destroy all of Middle Earth. We need to stop thinking of our respective races and start thinking of our shared world!" I cried.
"She is right." Aragorn stood. "None can control the ring."
"And what would you know of it? A ranger!" Boromir scoffed. Legolas leapt to his feet.
"He is no mere ranger! He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and heir to Elendil." Aragorn looked tired, now his identity had been revealed.
"Indeed?" Boromir asked quietly. I wondered if he remembered the man who had carried five-year-old Faramir back to bed the night of Finduilas' funeral.
"Sit." Elrond said softly. They all did.
"Well, if it needs destroying, what are we waiting for?" A red-haired dwarf surged forward with his axe raised, and I backed away, wrapping my cloak around me, disappearing to the council. There was a great crash as his axe met with the ring and shattered. Suddenly the council was in uproar, and elves were yelling at dwarves and men joined in. Frodo made himself smaller in his chair, and I knelt by him.
"Frodo." I said softly. He turned to where I sat, though he could not see me. "You know what you must do. Fear not, for burdens need not be carried forever." Frodo nodded, and rose.
"I will take it!" He called. I smiled to myself, and left the council.
*&*
Legolas found me in my rooms, as we both knew he would. He let himself in, and sank down on my bed, stretching out.
"What's wrong, love?" I asked, coming to sit beside him on the edge of the bed. He grabbed my wrists, jerked, rolled, and suddenly I was looking up at him from my position lying beside him on the bed. He kissed me gently.
"The council came to a halfway sensible conclusion." He said when he pulled back. I raised an eyebrow in question. "Nine of us will journey to Mordor, to help and protect the halfling Frodo Baggins as he journeys to destroy the ring." I looked at him, and tried to hide my dismay.
"It will not take too long, my love." He said soothingly. "And besides, we have often been parted, once for over twenty years. This will pass as seconds."
"No it wont." I argued. "Perhaps for an elf who lives for eternity, but not for a human who shall miss you very much."
"I wont live for eternity, lovely. I think we both know that." He said solemnly. I hit him gently.
"Do not be so sad. Neither of us will die for a long while yet. I'm only eighty, and my folk live for a good sight longer." Legolas laughed, and kissed me, his hands burrowing beneath me to get at the ties of my dress. I wrapped my arms around his neck and let him.
*&*
The nine left the following week, and most of Rivendell turned out to bid them farewell. Legolas looked at me, the sun pendant I gave him glinting in the sunlight. Then he nodded and me and smiled, and I grinned and nodded back. We had said our 'goodbyes' earlier in the privacy of my room.
Arwen beside me was much graver as she watched Aragorn check and recheck the supplies. I didn't ask her what was wrong, but we both knew I would as soon as they were gone. Her Evenstar pendant hung at Aragorn's throat, glowing silver even as mine glowed gold at Legolas' throat. The nine left, and Arwen turned and fled back into Rivendell. I followed her at an all out run, until we finally came to a halt on a fine balcony that jutted out over the waterfall.
"Arwen?" I asked.
"Leave me!" She snarled. I shook my head resolutely.
"What happened?" I asked. Arwen looked at me, then burst into tears, throwing her arms around me and burying her head in my shoulder as she wept. I guided her to the stone bench nearby, and cradled her in my arms as I murmured to her in elvish. When her tears finally subsided, I took her long fine hands in mine own. "Arwen, sister, tell me." Arwen looked at me strangely, and I realised I had never called her that before.
"He tried to give it back." She blurted. I understood immediately. "He said he wasn't coming back. He told me to sail. How could he?"
"He loves you no less for his wishes, Arwen." I said softly. "He tells you to sail for he fears for his own life, and he would not have you left here, a bitter reminder of what could have been."
"Better a bitter reminder than a memory of a dream!" She cried. I clutched her hands in mine.
"Arwen, you gave the Evenstar to Aragorn. And he wears it. You must have hope. It's all we have left." Tears were running down my face now, the thought of losing Legolas tore at my heart like a voracious animal.
"We should suffer loss together, should it come to pass." Arwen said softly, wiping my tears away even as I wiped away hers.
"Come. I will show you something." I said, taking her hand, and leading her out of Rivendell.
"Ah, Jané, good. Sit." I sat, feeling nervous. I almost felt twelve again, when Elrond was reprimanding me for taking the clothes out of the bathing rooms when Aragorn and Legolas were taking baths, so they had to run to their rooms without an awful lot on. I realised I was twisting Legolas' ring around and around my finger, and I stopped.
"I don't know if you are aware," Elrond began, "but Prince Legolas is engaged." My jaw dropped open, and I quickly shut it again. So it was true. "His intended bride is the Lady Rayma, who I believe you know." I raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly.
"There is just something I need to know, if I am going to dissolve this engagement before it is too late." Elrond said. I raised my eyebrows quizzically. "How long have you two been lovers?" I was taken aback. As a rule, Elrond let my business stay my business, but this was...unexpected.
"Since just before...I fell ill. The love-curse." I elaborated. I tucked an errant strand of hair behind my ear, and Elrond's gaze fell to my left hand, which lay in my lap.
"And you would marry him?" He asked, looking pointedly at the ring, I looked down at it.
"I would, but for Mordor."
"As close to a marriage as you are able." Elrond guessed, and I nodded. "Then the engagement must be dissolved, since he cannot marry another if his heart is wedded to yours." I rose, sensing the conversation to be over. "By the way, where is your necklace? This is the first occasion in a long time that I have seen you without one."
"I gave the one I was wearing today to Legolas, as I had his ring." I answered. Elrond smiled his satisfied smile, and somehow I guessed that maybe he wasn't quite as displeased with us as he would have us think.
Outside the door, Rayma and Legolas waited. As I passed them, Legolas frowned, and I smiled reassuringly. Then he disappeared into the library. Rayma grabbed my arm.
"How does it feel," she hissed, "to lose your precious prince to me?"
"I wouldn't break out the wine just yet," I advised. "Not unless you plan to celebrate my wedding." I smiled and moved away, and though I did not look over my shoulder, I revelled in her outraged silence.
I saw Frodo, who I now recognised from near enough seventeen years ago, sitting alone in the gardens, half hidden from others view. I began to make my way over to him, but was waylaid by Boromir.
"My lady," he bowed. I curtsied back.
"Lord Boromir. Welcome to Rivendell. It is good to see you again."
"Indeed. You have not returned to Gondor of late."
"No. My travels kept me further north and west, at Rivendell and at Edoras." I did not mention Mirkwood, though I think he knew anyway.
"Quite."
"And how is Faramir, and Denethor?" I asked.
"Father withdraws ever further into himself, and Faramir strives for his praise in vain, as always."
"I heard you retook Osgiliath last year." I said. "It was very brave of you."
"It was more Faramir's plan that it was mine." Boromir said modestly. "Faramir thinks it up, I do it. Unfortunately, father has little praise for those stronger of mind than of body, and always it has been so with Faramir."
"Indeed." I nodded, remembering the boy that would rather read than train with a sword. Boromir looked over my shoulder.
"Excuse me, my lady." He said with a bow. I curtsied perfunctorily, and made my way over to where Frodo sat hidden.
"May I join you?" I asked. He nodded. He looked very small and lonely. "You are not oft without your companions." I commented. He sighed wearily.
"I needed peace."
"If I disturb you, I shall leave." I stood, but Frodo made a grab for my hand.
"Stay." I sat back down. "Do you know Mordor?"
"Some." I answered. "I was there for some months, although I did not see the country as well as possible."
"A great burden is upon me." He said heavily. I touched his shoulder.
"Be brave, Frodo." I said quietly. "Trust to your heart, not to the ring." He jumped away from me, his hand automatically going to the ring I had hung on a chain around his neck during his illness. It had called me then, but I had refused it.
"Do not come near!" He warned.
"Peace, Frodo." I said staring at my hands. "The ring called to me, but I refused it. We come from the same place, the ring and I, though we have different masters." Frodo slowly came and sat back down.
"It was you that tended my shoulder, was it not?" He asked.
"Myself and Lord Elrond." I answered. "It was I that hung the ring on a chain, lest it try to escape your pockets."
"Gandalf has explained it to me, and what it did." Frodo said with a sigh. He sat on his hands on the bench and swung his legs.
"It has almost a will of its own." I agreed, "and it will do much to return to its master." I took the silver and moonstone ring off my right forefinger, where Galadriel had placed it many years ago. "Here." I said, offering it to him. "Hang this beside it on the chain, and perhaps it might lessen your burden somewhat." Frodo did so, and almost immediately gave a sigh of relief.
"It helps, thank you." He stared off into space.
"What troubles you?" I asked gently, "Aside from the ring."
"Today...my Uncle Bilbo, you remember him from the road?" I was startled.
"I do, but how do you remember?"
"On the way here, my friends and I, we fell off the ridge, much as we did all those years ago, and a black rider came. And I remembered, because we were all hiding under the tree, and I half expected to hear someone saying there was nothing there, but the voice didn't come, and I realised it had happened before. That was just before we met Strider. Do you know him?"
"I do. He's my foster brother. What of your uncle?" Frodo looked disappointed that I had returned to the subject, and I considered letting it go, but he began talking before I could tell him to leave it.
"Uncle Bilbo gave me this vest of mithril he had, and his old sword, which he called Sting. But when I went to try on the vest, he saw the ring. And all of a sudden he went...peculiar, almost...I don't know. I wouldn't say evil, but it was...disturbing." I nodded.
"Gandalf said the ring can take hold of people, like the nine rings took hold of the men Sauron gave them to, and I hate to think...but I cant help but consider-"
"That the ring has a hold over your uncle?" I asked softly. Frodo nodded miserably. I touched his arm. "Do you fear it will take hold of you too?"
"I don't think I am strong enough to take it all the way to Mordor!" Frodo burst out.
"Hush." I said, drawing him to me. He leaned his head on my shoulder. "Frodo, this task has come to you, through fate, or chance, or whatever you may call it. It would not have done so if you were not strong enough to bear this burden."
"I wish this had never happened." He whispered.
"So do most, when such tasks are given to them. But you and they both must take up the tasks in both hands and hearts, that in the end all will be well." Frodo sat up, and looked me in the eye.
"It won't be easy for you either." He said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well, if Sauron is destroyed, it is up to you to rebuild the country, is it not?" he asked.
"How do you..." I trailed off. He flipped my hands so they were palms upwards.
"There is a story, a legend almost, of a lady who was queen in Mordor, who had suns just like these on her hands. We never believed it until we saw yours."
"One of the queens got to you, as well?" I asked. This was getting ridiculous.
"I think the story goes that she saved the shire from some people who were determined to ruin it...or something." He finished lamely. I smiled, and the chimes for dinner rang.
"Go on." I said, giving him a nudge. "Join your friends, and do not be too downhearted." He smiled at me, then jumped down from the bench. I went to get changed.
I was not terribly late for dinner, but everyone looked up as I came in, but I ignored them, walking straight to the high table, and to my seat beside Arwen.
"Nice dress. Why are you late?" She asked.
"I'm not!" I protested quietly, nodding thanks to a servant who filled my wineglass. "I'm just not early, is all. I was talking to one of the hobbits when the chimes went, and then I had to get changed because I had grass-stains on my dress."
"Ah." Arwen grinned and nodded, and ate, although I suspected there was more on her mind that she wanted to talk about.
She finally broke her patient silence when the servants were removing the second course.
"So." She said.
"So." I replied, taking a sip of my wine.
"So why is Rayma glaring at you like you're a Nazgûl in disguise and no one believes her when she tells them."
"Possibly because it might be true." I said, deliberately resting my chin on my left hand so the ring Legolas gave me could not go unnoticed by Arwen.
"Oh!" She exclaimed, her eyes lighting on the ring. "Oh. Oh." Each 'oh' had a different tone and meaning, describing surprise, understanding, then further understanding. I grinned. She grabbed my hand and scrutinised it.
"Do you know what this is?" She demanded of me.
"One of the heirlooms of Mirkwood?" I guessed.
"Exactly!" Arwen said. "It's a wedding ring, for Valar's sakes!"
"Oh. Well I knew that already." I said calmly, smiling at the servant girl who laid my plate before me.
"You what?" Arwen cried. She quickly lowered her voice. "You mean..."
"He asked me to marry him this morning, and I said I would that very moment if I could."
"Ah. Yes. The small problem of Anorondor." Arwen said, nodding in understanding.
"So Legolas put it on my middle finger, the closest I can get to marriage for the time being." Arwen nodded, taking a rather large sip of wine.
"And you gave him the ring from Galadriel?" She asked, pointing to my right forefinger where the silver and moonstone ring was missing.
"Actually, no. I gave him that little gold and topaz sun pendant I have. Not exactly a conventional promise gift, but I figured it wouldn't get in the way of archery as much as a ring would."
"So what happened to the ring from Galadriel?" Arwen asked.
"I gave it to Frodo. To try and help lighten his burden." Arwen nodded, apparently satisfied.
"He is small for such a burden." Arwen said. "Oh! I've just thought. I have something for you. It was to be a birthday gift, but...I'm not quite sure why I didn't give it to you. And I'm not sure why I thought of it now. Come with me to my room after dinner, and I'll give it to you. It was a gift to me, a long time ago, and I think it belongs with you."
I asked further, but Arwen would say no more, and I was left to ponder her words throughout dinner.
When I went to her rooms that night, she let me in, and I saw she had a piece of gold velvet laid out on her bed. When she unwrapped it, I saw two small shining silver throwing knives, engraved with rising suns and words in old Mordor.
"Straight and true." They both said.
"There was a queen, as I'm sure you know, called Isolde the Fair, who actually grew up here in Imladris. We were good friends." Arwen was silent for a moment, her hand tracing the outlines of the blades. "She taught me to throw knives, it was her speciality. When she died, she gave them to me."
"How did she die?" I asked.
"The love-curse killed her. She chose sanity, but did not forget her love and her care for her lover. He faded, for he believed she had been lost to him, and she died shortly after. Her daughter Eldiran was sent to Galadriel, who raised her as she raised Emria, many years before. Eldiran then moved to Mirkwood, where she lived until she died. She was three hundred, I believe, when she died. I believe Isolde would have wanted you, her great granddaughter to have these, and to return them to Mordor from whence they came." Arwen turned over the blades, and I saw the other inscription. On the first: "For victory the battle was fought, and for blood it was lost." And on the second blade: "One love is truer than many, and crueller also." I smiled.
"I know the sentiment." Arwen smiled at me, and pressed the two blades gently into my hands. They were perfectly balanced, deadly works of art.
"Thank you Arwen. It seems everyone has another part of my past to give me."
"Most of us do. The Queens of Mordor were widespread, and were wanderers, like the Númenor. You are no different."
"No." I murmured, staring down at the blades in my hands, and beyond them to the suns on my palms. "Not very."
*&*
The morning of the council, I was making my way to my room to fetch my cloak which masked me from most people, when I ran into a company of dwarves. I curtsied deeply, much as I would and did to royalty.
"Ah, my lady." One of the dwarves said. He had a grey beard, and looked old.
"My lord. Can I help you?" I asked politely, rising.
"We seemed to have lost our way."
"I am not unfamiliar with the realisation." I said with a kind smile. "Where are you going, and I shall do my best to aid you in getting there." The elderly dwarf bowed.
"We are much obliged to your help, my lady. We seek Lord Elrond, and his meeting."
"Ah. I can help you their, my lords. If you would, follow me please." I led them to the place of the council, and when we reached it, I curtsied. "There you are, my lords, and we are yet early."
"Your help is greatly appreciated." The elderly dwarf said, bowing low. "And your manners out do many of your kind. Not all elves are so polite."
"I must correct you, my lord." I said calmly. "I am no elf, though I grew up among them."
The dwarves chuckled. "You have exquisite bearing, my lady." The grey- bearded dwarf said with smile, and he bowed over my hand and kissed it. "Excuse us." I nodded, and the three dwarves entered the circle.
Now I had to hurry, or I would be late.
*&*
By the time I returned to the council place, most of the places were filled. I saw on the wall, careful that I was completely covered by the cloak, and the veil that matched the cloak fell over my face.
The council was truly a council of folk. There were elves, men, dwarves, and the hobbit, Frodo, although I could see the other three of his companions lurking in the shadows.
Of the people present, I knew only a few. Aragorn, Boromir, the three dwarves, Legolas, Gandalf, Frodo and myself. There were others there – two other elves, and at least one other man, not counting the three other hobbits.
The council started calmly. Frodo placed the ring on the table in the centre of the circle, and I immediately felt its pull. Frodo sat sunken in his chair as though he had no wish to be here, which I doubted he had.
As the council progressed, all went well until Boromir suggested using the ring against Sauron. I could hear Denethor's words in Boromir's suggestion, and as the tone and mood of the council escalated; I could bear no more. Throwing off my cloak, I rose.
"Be silent." I said, using the 'voice of power' I had been taught at Denarssa. Everyone fell silent instantly. "Prince Boromir, you cannot use this. None of us can. The only option is to destroy it." Boromir sent me a dirty look.
"And what would you know of it?" He demanded. My patience broke.
"Sit down and stop being a silly boy, Boromir!" I snapped. I immediately regretted it, but I couldn't stop now without being laughed out of the council. Boromir sat in his chair, glaring at me. If looks could kill...
"The ring wants to return to its master. Once Sauron has the ring he will destroy all of Middle Earth. We need to stop thinking of our respective races and start thinking of our shared world!" I cried.
"She is right." Aragorn stood. "None can control the ring."
"And what would you know of it? A ranger!" Boromir scoffed. Legolas leapt to his feet.
"He is no mere ranger! He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and heir to Elendil." Aragorn looked tired, now his identity had been revealed.
"Indeed?" Boromir asked quietly. I wondered if he remembered the man who had carried five-year-old Faramir back to bed the night of Finduilas' funeral.
"Sit." Elrond said softly. They all did.
"Well, if it needs destroying, what are we waiting for?" A red-haired dwarf surged forward with his axe raised, and I backed away, wrapping my cloak around me, disappearing to the council. There was a great crash as his axe met with the ring and shattered. Suddenly the council was in uproar, and elves were yelling at dwarves and men joined in. Frodo made himself smaller in his chair, and I knelt by him.
"Frodo." I said softly. He turned to where I sat, though he could not see me. "You know what you must do. Fear not, for burdens need not be carried forever." Frodo nodded, and rose.
"I will take it!" He called. I smiled to myself, and left the council.
*&*
Legolas found me in my rooms, as we both knew he would. He let himself in, and sank down on my bed, stretching out.
"What's wrong, love?" I asked, coming to sit beside him on the edge of the bed. He grabbed my wrists, jerked, rolled, and suddenly I was looking up at him from my position lying beside him on the bed. He kissed me gently.
"The council came to a halfway sensible conclusion." He said when he pulled back. I raised an eyebrow in question. "Nine of us will journey to Mordor, to help and protect the halfling Frodo Baggins as he journeys to destroy the ring." I looked at him, and tried to hide my dismay.
"It will not take too long, my love." He said soothingly. "And besides, we have often been parted, once for over twenty years. This will pass as seconds."
"No it wont." I argued. "Perhaps for an elf who lives for eternity, but not for a human who shall miss you very much."
"I wont live for eternity, lovely. I think we both know that." He said solemnly. I hit him gently.
"Do not be so sad. Neither of us will die for a long while yet. I'm only eighty, and my folk live for a good sight longer." Legolas laughed, and kissed me, his hands burrowing beneath me to get at the ties of my dress. I wrapped my arms around his neck and let him.
*&*
The nine left the following week, and most of Rivendell turned out to bid them farewell. Legolas looked at me, the sun pendant I gave him glinting in the sunlight. Then he nodded and me and smiled, and I grinned and nodded back. We had said our 'goodbyes' earlier in the privacy of my room.
Arwen beside me was much graver as she watched Aragorn check and recheck the supplies. I didn't ask her what was wrong, but we both knew I would as soon as they were gone. Her Evenstar pendant hung at Aragorn's throat, glowing silver even as mine glowed gold at Legolas' throat. The nine left, and Arwen turned and fled back into Rivendell. I followed her at an all out run, until we finally came to a halt on a fine balcony that jutted out over the waterfall.
"Arwen?" I asked.
"Leave me!" She snarled. I shook my head resolutely.
"What happened?" I asked. Arwen looked at me, then burst into tears, throwing her arms around me and burying her head in my shoulder as she wept. I guided her to the stone bench nearby, and cradled her in my arms as I murmured to her in elvish. When her tears finally subsided, I took her long fine hands in mine own. "Arwen, sister, tell me." Arwen looked at me strangely, and I realised I had never called her that before.
"He tried to give it back." She blurted. I understood immediately. "He said he wasn't coming back. He told me to sail. How could he?"
"He loves you no less for his wishes, Arwen." I said softly. "He tells you to sail for he fears for his own life, and he would not have you left here, a bitter reminder of what could have been."
"Better a bitter reminder than a memory of a dream!" She cried. I clutched her hands in mine.
"Arwen, you gave the Evenstar to Aragorn. And he wears it. You must have hope. It's all we have left." Tears were running down my face now, the thought of losing Legolas tore at my heart like a voracious animal.
"We should suffer loss together, should it come to pass." Arwen said softly, wiping my tears away even as I wiped away hers.
"Come. I will show you something." I said, taking her hand, and leading her out of Rivendell.