Chapter Six

Katya could hear singing. Suddenly all she wanted to do was listen to the voice. Come, come with me, put the Ring on you finger. Come, come, come, come. You can trust me. I will be your friend from here onward. I know your pain. Come I will heal you.

Katya? Come back. Where are you Katya? Katya! Take it of your finger! Katya!

Estel? Is that you? Estel I'm sorry I really don't think I want to go back. Thank you for taking such good care of me but you never would understand me the way she does.

I don't need to. Katya. She is evil. I know who she is. She will not be there. There will not be any one good when you reach you destination. She is taking you to Mordor where your father's ring will be taken away. Your voice is getting fainter Katya. Come back to the light!

How did you know about my ring?

I'm inside your mind as you are in mine. That is how She knew of it too. Do you want to leave your sister and father to die without you? Katya. This world's and your world's survival depends on you.

Can't I come back later?

No.

Come.

I'm really sorry I can't.

KATYA!

Katya sat gripping her ring that she had been pulling out of her pocket in one hand and in the other she had clenched into a fist. Estel sat on the floor sweat poring down his forehead. Elladan sat confused as he dropped her hand that he had been holding.

"What happened?" Katya asked. "You were trying to go to Mordor." Elladan said, "Where is that?" "It is an evil country far away from here." " That is good news. That it is far away from here I mean. Have you ever been there?" Elladan shook his head. He had been on the border dozens of times but he never actually passed through the Black Gate. Estel went pale. Elladan knew he was thinking of another person who until recently had never passed through the Black Gate. "Estel? Are you all right?" Estel pulled out of his reverie. "Yes I'm fine. I have been to Mordor, yes." Katya watched him a moment longer before she felt the sleepiness that she had felt before Elladan told her to draw out the Ring. She yawned. Estel and Elladan saw and decided to let her rest. "I hope to see you in the morning then." Estel said and with that he got up bowed and left. Elladan stayed a moment longer then nodded his head and left. Katya was left to her worries and wonderings that were quickly consumed by sleep.

"What are we-" "Hush Elladan you and I need rest just as much as she does. Good Night and I don't want to find out that you weren't sleeping!" Aragorn was gone before Elladan could answer him.

The next morning Elladan did not see Aragorn at breakfast. He went to Aragorn's rooms later and did not find him there either. It was not till he went to the library. There he sat with his back toward Elladan and about seventy great old books and thirty scrolls scattered around him. "How is she?" Elladan asked softly not wanting to startle him. Since elves go light it was likely that Aragorn would not know that Elladan was here until this moment. "I have not seen her." Aragorn answered without even turning around. "How did you collect all these books and manage to start going through them all in a couple of hours?" Elladan asked suddenly suspicious. "I didn't." Aragorn said simply. " Aragorn." Elladan sounded very serious. Aragorn sighed. "I've been collecting these books since last night." "Talk about not sleeping. Here is an exact quote from your mouth 'and I don't want to find out you weren't sleeping!' you should talk." Elladan pronounced clearly irritated. "Shall we go see Katya?" "No. I need to find more information first. When she is ready she will talk." Aragorn replied. Elladan sighed. He felt sorry for the little girl. He could understand how she felt. Lost, alone, frightened, confused, and homesick. Aragorn would understand her from an outside point of view but never an inside; he had never given himself a chance to feel any fear or loneliness. Elladan however remembered the long years ago when he was just a child and not as strong willed as he was now when he thought he would never see his mother again, and when he was a stubborn teenager and watching his mother depart to the Grey Havens. It had taken all his strength not to cry in front of every one. Only sixteen years ago when his sister was already married and his father and brother sailed to the Havens where they would see Celebrian again and he never would.

Elladan then left Aragorn to finish his work. And went up to his own rooms. On his way he passed Katya's rooms. Elladan poked his head in. Katya sat talking to a Rivendell elf named Hatha. She seemed to be begging him. Hatha shook his head. "I'm terribly sorry miss, I don't think it is a good idea to go to the library at this point in your recovery without the Lord of Rivendell's permission." "Who is that? Maybe I should go meet Him." "Nay." Hatha laughed. "For if I am correct you have already met him." "Who is he? I have only met you, Elladan, and Estel. Estel could be it, he is very lordly." Hatha laughed again. " Yes he is. But it is not he. You did however say his name. It is Elladan." "Elladan! Who would have thought! Well I'm sure he will let me go." At that moment Elladan decided to come forth and let his presence be known. "Good Morning Katya! How are you today?" "Well actually I was sort of wondering if I couldÉumÉgo to the library or something like that." Katya answered, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable and rude. She decided to add to what she had said, lest he think her ungrateful. "I mean I feel kind of useless. If you know what I mean." Elladan laughed. "You are supposed to feel useless when you are hurt. But I know how you feel so yes you may go to the library or anywhere else you might want. In fact I will show you around if you like." "Oh thank you very much indeed! It would be very nice if you would do that!" Katya exclaimed joyously. "Okay then when you are ready come outside and I will be waiting for you." He said and with that he left her room and shut the door behind him.