This chapter is not as good as the previous one, it is more a transitory one, without a lot of explanation and such. I don't really own much, so yeah… the next chapter should be better than this one.
Gwilwileth- Awkward Phases
The two women, and four elves, sat in a large room that was well lit. Tall bookshelves lined the walls, and large tables were placed throughout the room. Light came in through large picture windows, which showed an overcast sky with rain that threatened to spill. A warm fire crackled in the fireplace spreading warmth throughout the chilled room. The golden haired women looked distraught, while they quickly flipped through pages of large books, a pile sat besides them both that looked more like a mountain than anything else.
"What are you in search of?" Miriel questioned, watching the two women with wonder.
"I must speak with Elladan and Elrohir, they are the only ones with access to the libraries of Rivendell." Ren sighed, looking into the fire.
"The Libraries of Rivendell? Was Rivendell not destroyed?" Maecheneb asked, shocked at the thought.
"Nay, Rivendell was not destroyed. If you are surprised with this, you shall be more so at that. I have long been in contact with the twins, who have taken very well care of the city. There are also many smaller, and well-protected areas that have been preserved. It is surprising for me to find that you have not known of them already." Ren said as she shut the book. "I fear that a change shall come soon, Nana."
"As do I, you were always more intuitive than I was, however." Said the grandmother, a sad smile drowning on her face.
"I feel the call of the sea. The Lady knows what is to come; the Elves are no longer safe in their Havens. A small party has been sent here to find a safer resting place, until the Undying Lands have been saved." She said as she looked to the book in front of her. Her eyes taking on a dark blue look. "I am worried, Nana."
"I know, dear." Elanore sighed, watching the child writhe with fatigue and worry.
"Lorien will not be dead for long." Ren said, standing and grabbing the book as she left the room.
"What does she mean?" Miriel asked, looking at the older woman.
"With the Undying Lands becoming unsafe, the Elves will be given the option to leave for safer grounds. Many will stay to fight, but a great number will return to their original homes. A ship set off this morning, they are expected to arrive tomorrow afternoon through the river." She told them, her voice full of sorrow. "Ren is departing soon, to meet them at the mouth, and lead them here."
"May I go with her?" Haldir said quickly, his excitement visible in his eyes.
"You may." She told the elf, with a smile.
"We will go to announce this to the other elves, may we bring them back with us?" Maecheneb asked.
"Of course you may, keep this with you." She said, pulling a small chain, with intricate drawings on the silver chain, a dark green crystal leaf charm sat at the end, with silver shooting through as veins. "However, I cannot stress the importance of not losing it, this will allow you to find the woods and re-enter them safely."
"Thank You." He said with a slight bow. Ren came into the room once again, this time wearing a dark grey tunic with matching breeches. She had a dark cloak on, held with the usual Lorien brooch. She was holding a bundle of clothing, and she tossed them to Haldir.
"Change quickly, if we are to meet them at the mouth in time, we must leave soon." Ren said, running out of the room to retrieve more things.
Elanore led the four elves out of the library, and met Ren in the center of the vacant city. Ren handed Haldir a small dagger, and Bow and quiver. He quickly changed in a nearby talon. The three elves left, while Haldir left with the girl in another direction.
"How long until we reach the mouth?" Haldir asked her, they had been traveling for many hours in silence, and night had begun to fall.
"It is nearly 9, and we should arrive at midnight if we keep this pace." She told him quietly, the thick dark green trees surrounded them warmly.
"Do you travel these woods often?" He asked her, as she stopped abruptly, having heard a sound. The two pulled their bows with amazing quickness, and she shot into the darkness. She ran to the sound of a thumb, and found an animal that had meant to make of them a meal. She pulled her arrow out, and went to the river to wash it.
"No, I do not." She answered quickly, as she set back off, following the river. The stars shone above them as their only guiding light. The river danced a beautiful jig as the mouth grew closer and closer, the sounds of the forest playing as background music to the display. Before either of them knew it, the mouth was before them, and the sun was beginning to rise behind the mountain.
Ren gracefully climbed atop a large boulder, and sat perched, watching the horizon. Haldir chose to sit besides her and wait. After some time, she pulled out some bread, and offered him some quietly. He accepted the offer, and the two sat in silence eating.
"They will soon reach us." Ren said to him, he glanced and in the distance saw a small ship.
Within an hour the sun was in the sky, and the ship had stopped on the shore. A tall woman, and man stepped off the ship, their white cloaks shinning with the sun.
"Hello, Idhren of Lorien." The man said, taking off his hood to reveal long silver hair. "It pleases me to meet you."
"Thank You, My Lord." She said with a delicate bow.
"You are the Lady of the woods now, such formalities are of no use." The woman said, her golden hair shining as she removed the hood. Haldir was quickly bowing on one knee. "It has been long since we last talked, Haldir."
"Yes, My Lady." Haldir said, standing from his bow.
"We should leave promptly to ensure quick arrival, and also to remain safe." Ren told the two elves.
"We shall begin unloading now then." Celeborn told her, and with that many elves that served the couple began loading off many boxes of different sizes. Soon other elves began to depart the vessel. After the many elves were off of the boat, it began to sail off once again. With Ren in the lead, the Elves walked through the forest. By the fall of the sun, they reached the borders of the town, which seemed livelier with them just on the outskirts.
"It has been well preserved." Galadriel told the girl through mind.
The many elves began filling Talans with their belongings; the beauty of the town took Ren back now that it was filled with inhabitants. Guards were being chosen, and servants given directions.
"My Lord, May I serve as a guard for you once more?" Haldir asked humbly, bowing at the feet of Lord Celeborn.
"I am afraid that Lady Idhren is the Lady of the Lorien now, and you should ask her, not myself." The silver-haired man laughed musically.
"Where is she, so I may speak with her?" Haldir asked, keeping his surprise behind his voice.
"In the mirror room, with Lady Galadriel." Celeborn told him carefully.
"Where have Elladan and Elrohir gone?" Miriel asked as soon as the three arrived at the main headquarters.
"They just left without warning, why?" Asked a tall blonde haired elf.
"The elves are returning to Lorien, and Rivendell. The Undying lands are no longer safe from Sauron, and the Lorien woods are not for sale, but we are allowed to stay there, while the Lady of the woods watches over them." Maecheneb told the elf cautiously.
"Who is the Lady of the woods?" The elf, Mellaeg, asked having not known of the Lady.
"Yes, A young woman named Idhren, a descendent of Aegnor and Nethaglar, and distant niece of Lady Galadriel. There are spells placed on the woods, her family has protected them since Lord Celeborn's departure to the Grey Havens." He explained. "We have discussed it, and have decided to take the Govannas to Lorien."
"Gather what you would like to take with you, we are leaving soon." Legolas told them, quickly walking up the ladder to the tree. A small group of about 20 Elves left within the following half of an hour.
"The Rivendell Elves have arrived, Elrond has met with his sons." Galadriel said to Ren, watching the Mirror room that was gaining a glow with the moonlight. "Elladan is leading a party here tomorrow morning."
"You would like a feast for their arrival." Ren said, watching the mirror water carefully.
"Yes, and I would also like to have a ceremony, to make official your rule over the woods." Galadriel said to the girl.
"But what of you and Lord Celeborn? You are the rightful rulers." Ren cried out.
"Your family has watched over these woods for thousands of years, the time of our rule as finished, it is now your turn." The woman said wisely. "You are ready, and you are not alone."
"While I feel very nervous and unsettled on this, I have no reason to doubt what you say." Ren said nervously, all of her usual grace failing her.
"We will have to take the spells off of you, to uncover your elvish nature. The tailors will readily make you more clothes, and the chefs will anxiously begin preparations." Galadriel said, hushing the girl as she led her out to another Talan. "For now, I do believe your family awaits you."
"My family?" Ren asked, turning to see many tall, slender women, some with Silver, others with Golden hair, they all had the same piercing blue grey eyes, and similar facial features. The women mostly wore white gowns, with intricate designs in lace, and beads, but some wore blues, grays and greens.
"Hello, Idhren. We have heard much of you from the Lady Galadriel." Ren heard a woman's voice say in her mind. A tall slender woman, that looked as though she were the leader, walked to her. "Hello, Daughter."
"E-" Ren began.
"Do not worry yourself so." The she-elf laughed out loud, her voice as though whimsical chimes. "I am Elwen, and these are my daughters. I believe you know who they are, already."
"Yes, I do." Ren said quietly, studying the women that were all youthful, and more beautiful than a spring day.
"Silivren will perform a few spells on you, so to return you to your elvish looks that have been so well hidden. I have brought many gifts for you." Elwen smiled, taking the girls hand, and leading her to the royal talons. "Please sit here."
Elwen and the other women then proceeded to poke and prod at the young woman for a great amount of time.
"Your mother has raised you well." Elwen said while a handmaid was working on Idhren's hair, pulling back small intricate braids that fell into the long wavy golden hair. "It is customary to wear this."
"What is it?" Ren asked as she picked up the small silver object. A thin woven circle of silver, that looked much like vines and leaves.
"It is the circlet that you shall wear, until you are finalized." Elwen said, placing the object onto the young woman's head. As they spoke, Silivren had begun performing a spell on her. She felt strange warmth through her entire being, as though she was being wrapped in a large blanket that instantaneously warmed her to the core… only it started at the core and went out as opposed to out then in. She felt tingling with the warmth, and she saw that her skin had gotten lighter. Ren began to fear the change as she paled, and looked up to Elwen in shock. The woman only smiled at her, as a mother would to their daughter. After a few more moments, it ceased. She was then handed a light bundle of white silk, which seemed to have been woven with silver and gold. It had heavy beadwork, which in many other circumstances would more likely than not have weighed much more. A handmaid led her behind a curtain, and began to undress her. After 10 minutes she emerged.
Ren saw her reflection, and was shocked at the transformation. Her once small frame had been stretched out to be taller, and thinner, yet failed to look sickly. The gown sat on her shoulders, and was form fitting to the waist, then cascaded to the floor. The sleeves were long, and flared at the elbow to the floor like a waterfall. The mixture of lace and beads made it resemble a wedding dress, but it failed to look as though she were to be wed. Her whole body seemed to glow with a strange golden air. But what surprised her most were not the changes of her body, but her head, and face. Her ears had changed to liken themselves with the other women, and her face had become more prominently accented, her cheekbones higher, eyes brighter… everything seemed brighter, more noticeable.
"This is amazing." Ren said quietly, hearing her voice sound the same, yet so much more musical and different, as though each word were a note in a song.
"This is who you are, Idhren." Elwen told her as the girl looked to her frightened.
"H-" she began.
"Lady Idhren, the Govannas have arrived. Would you like to greet them?" An elf stood at the door patiently, his light hair pulled back with braids, and a bow on the back of his grey apparel.
"I would like to meet with them. Ask them if they have eaten yet. Show them to rooms, and if they have not eaten, invite them to dinner here. If they accept, send someone to bring them in half an hour. Allow them to clean themselves up, give them fresh clothes, also." Idhren told the man, turning to face him.
"As you wish." He said bowing slightly as he left the talon.
"You are very good at directing." Elwen said curtly.
"I have always wanted to do that." She said smiling broadly, surprised at how much better she felt when smiling, after she hadn't known that she wasn't feeling well. She then gasped. "I have forgotten about my family, I must go speak with them!"
"You must have dinner with your guests! We can send a hand-maid to speak with them." Silivren spoke up, speaking for the first real time that day.
"May we send Elanore?" Ren asked them, turning to see her Naneth sitting in her room.
"Of course, child." Elanore smiled as she stood. "I will be back soon."
"Thank you, Nana." Ren hugged the woman as she departed.
Idhren and her party then slowly made their way out of their talon. They walked across a small bridge high in the air to a larger talon. The first room they walked into was a sitting room, which looked also much like a dance hall. A door to the side of the room, lead to the dining area, they walked through the doorway and saw a brightly lit, well-decorated room. In the center of the room a small group of elves played a classical type song; Idhren could hardly believe that they had only been there a few hours. Servants were rushing around setting the long tables.
"You will sit at the head, we will sit to your right, and Galadriel will sit to your left. The other guests will sit at the surrounding tables." Elwen told her, leading her to the head of the table.
The women continued to talk about small topics, until Galadriel arrived with Celeborn. Idhren was transfixed with the beauty that many stories had been told of. Even having seen pictures, nothing could liken itself to her.
"Do not be so surprised, young one. You will soon be the light of the forest." Galadriel spoke, sitting besides the girl.
"The light of the forest?" Ren asked her curiously.
"It was said that the light of the forest was from not the tree's, but from I. You will learn that you are now the carrier of the light, be careful with it." Galadriel said vaguely. "You must keep the woods light, lest the darkness enters and all shall perish."
Ren was about to speak but was interrupted as the doors were opened once more, and a servant entered. Behind the servant a group of 20 Elves entered, all looking around with a hidden awe.
"Welcome." Ren stood to welcome them with a smile; they all stopped what they had been doing to look. "I am glad to have such wonderful company."
The servant led the elves to their seats, having been the last ones to enter. A hush went through the crowd; silent whispers filled the air as dinner was served.
"Who is that?" asked a dark haired elf with the Govannas. He watched the woman at the head of the table with interest.
"Lady Idhren. She is a distant Niece of Lady Galadriels, and soon will be the Lady of the woods." Miriel told him, looking at the young woman who had changed from the last time she had seen her. "She is the watcher of the woods, also."
"The watcher?" he asked curiously, turning to look at Miriel.
"Her line has long taken care of the woods, it is she who refused to sell the woods to Lord Legolas." Miriel said to him carefully, her green eyes flashing warningly. "She is still a child, young even to Man. She has the light that Galadriel once possessed, and the magic of an istari. She is fulfilling her part of the prophecy."
"What is the prophecy that she must fulfill?" He asked her, turning back to watch the young girl who was now laughing at something, her laugh carrying across the room like a waterfall, he could see the light growing.
"It was said that every third generation would have golden hair, and beauty that could liken unto Galadriels. It is one of the golden haired daughters that will re-introduce the elves into the elven kingdoms of old, and will bring the ultimate defeat of Sauron." She told him, smoothing her green gown of velvet.
"And she is the chosen one?" He asked her, blue streaks shot through his silver eyes.
"If that is how you chose to look upon it, then yes. What is the reason behind your peaked interest, Estel?" Miriel asked, fixing her dark hair.
"Is there a problem with finding interest in new things?" He cocked at eyebrow as he looked to his companion.
"Of course not, I was just asking. You do not usually have such an interest in many things." She laughed.
"If she is truly a distant niece of Galadriel, then she is also a distant cousin of my mothers." He explained, watching the girl.
"Do you not believe that she is who she says?" Miriel was aghast at the thought.
"No, I believe that she is. Galadriel, and the other Elves are too close to her to suggest otherwise. It is just odd, do you not think so? We have been around since the beginning of this age, and before, why have we not heard of them before?" he questioned.
"Everyone has reasons for hiding, you must agree that she could be likened to Lady Galadriel." Miriel reasoned. "Her family has been training for all of these years, while we were not caring for the world. Did you never wonder why some elves never felt the call of the sea? While we were unsure of the others, their family knew, and were preparing for a second coming of the elves. You have never seen the destruction that Sauron brings, only tales and songs… She has seen all of it, and what is to come. Would you not hide in your preparation?"
The dinner table was filled with much laughter and joy as the old friends traded stories of their years apart.
"I do believe your attention is being called for." Galadriel said with a smile as she glanced to the women on Idhren's right.
"What?" Idhren turned to the woman besides her.
"Come, dinner is over! Let us depart to the gardens, where we can talk of many things." A silver haired woman smiled, standing with the others in toe.
"Go, be merry. There will not be many more chances for merriment in the days to come." Galadriel told the young woman.
"Thank You." Idhren laughed, as the she-elves dragged her out of the room.
"Idhren, tell us! What are the boys like?" The she elf that had beckoned her out giggled. "It has been thousands of years since I have last seen men."
"They are young, and vulgar, if that is what you wish to hear." Idhren said rolling her eyes at the woman who was much older than she.
"I don't mean like that." The elf said, her voice dripping with insinuations.
"I don't know what you mean then." She said to the woman, turning to sit beneath a large willow like tree that was lovely silver in color under the moonlight.
"Do you have any courtships?" another woman, that looked much like the first, questioned.
"Men do not court in the ways they once did. I assume the question you mean to ask, is do I have any romantic relationships with men… which I shall answer no." Idhren told her, wishing that women thousands of years older than her could at least speak of something else.
"You are an Elf, I suppose… But you were raised as a human, and to Humans is your age not old?" she asked curiously.
"35? Yes, that is old to be un-attached. I have been pre-occupied, and felt no need for romantic inclination." Ren said, shaking her head as she played with leaves on the ground.
"There is a party heading to the old Greenwood. They say that the elvish empire will once again be prosperous. A full elvish child had not been born since Arwen, yet in our first day here one has already been born! It is a sign…" She trailed off.
"You do know, that before you can be the Lady of the woods, you must have a Lord." The first one grinned.
"I must? I suppose I will not be the Lady of the woods in that case." Ren retorted, remembering all the times as a child that she got made fun of by other children for looking funny, or acting differently, that was her parents main reason in home schooling their children. By the time she had started High School the boys didn't mind her, but the girls hated her to a point of pulling mean pranks on her… She excluded herself to the woods, having her Nana teach her everything she needed.
"This could be fun, we have not been able to play match-maker since we left Middle Earth." The second one said joyously.
"If you loved it so much then, why do you not go back in time to it? I don't wish to be your pawn." Ren said standing up and dusting her bottom off.
"That is it!" Elwen cried out, speaking for the first time.
"What is it?" Ren asked, frightened for her speaking up.
"If we could send you back in time, you could assist in destroying Sauron, before he could come forward in time." Elwen said, the wheels in her mind apparently turning.
"How would we do that?" Ren asked curiously, the idea of going back was one that interested her.
"We shall talk with Lady Galadriel, she will know how to help." Elwen said, leading the young woman to the mirror room.
Four of the She elves accompanied Idhren to Galadriel. They sat in the silence of the room for some time.
"It may work, but you must be careful." Galadriel warned, looking into the mirror. "It is very complicated magic to send one far into the past, I shall give you an image, that you must show me once you arrive there. I will know what to do."
"How will I get back?" Idhren questioned, her excitement mixing with her fear. She would meet all of the elves she had read of.
"The mirror will be your only way back. You will not explain yourself to anyone, and should they question you, your response should be that you are a relative to me, and are under my guidance." She explained, her voice holding more importance that it usually held.
She went deeper into explanation, until a tall elf came in, carrying a white cloak, and a large golden staff, with a crystal ball on the tip.
"Take this with you." Galadriel said, handing the white cloak, that was similar to the gown Ren wore, Elwen fastened it on, with the Lorien brooch. Galadriel then handed the staff to her, the thin, yet sturdy golden white wood, with vine like things climbing up it, leaves on the vines. "These will help you along your journey, be careful, young one."
"W-" Ren started, as she felt a strange feeling wash over her, as though she were taking a shower with light.