Chapter 22:
The day of the Council dawned and all rose swiftly from their beds to await this important decision. Morié girded herself carefully, the flimsy veils and sleeves of the Feast forgotten and cast aside as too impractical. For this was a solemn time, the world could sense it and all things pretty were to be ignored. This day was about practicality and not beauty, so she dressed in a tight fitting doublet with embroidery and under that wore a shirt with sleeves that reached to her wrists instead of to her elbows. Instead of the skirts, she chose trousers that hid her legs well and bound them tightly to her ankles under her boots. Satisfied, she wrapped the girdle from the feast around her waist to signify her rank and bound her hair underneath a band of silver with a small sapphire imbedded in it. Tying her hair securely into a ponytail, she donned her weapons and covered it all with her dark green cloak. Satisfied, she smiled at herself and walked towards the prepared meeting place, situated outside in a peaceful glade.
Nodding at the elven warriors who guarded the door, she stepped up and they lowered their weapons to let her pass. Seating herself in between the elves Galdor and Erestor, she removed her cloak and let it hang by her shoulders. Nodding at Aragorn as he entered, she smiled and then frowned as she saw his face was saddened with much care. Raising her eyebrow as only she could, she winked at her foster-brother as he laughed and ruffled her hair.
"Why the Ranger outfit, gwathel nin? You of all people should know that Adar would not let you go on this quest."
"And why not, Estel? He knows I am quite able to look after myself. After all, I saved you from that snake when you were five, did I not? I trained you for your destiny and now you stand revealed to all and you have me to thank for your ability in battle. Besides, someone has to keep an eye on Legolas, don't they? I can't have him being eaten by orcs or cave trolls."
"You've been listening to too many tales of Bilbo's, nin neth gwathel. No wonder adar won't let you come, you've got your head in the clouds."
"Silly boy, listen to your elders. I have to be at least 1000 years older than you so that doesn't really count."
"Well then, brennil nin, I am glad to have you to pull me up. Do not worry about him. Legolas will be safe with me; I will bring him back in one piece and still breathing."
"That is good, muindor. I look forward to seeing you crowned king. Promise me you will be careful while you are out there. I will kill you if you die out there and end the line of Kings."
With a smile, he bent down and kissed the top of her head and then sat in his seat over in the shadows. Giving him a look, she turned as the warning bell sounded in the air, crisp and clear and smiled covertly at Legolas, seated between two elves of his House who looked unhappy to be here. Turning her head, she surveyed the dwarves and inclined her head in deference to Gloin and his son Gimli and mouthed the words "Do not fear, little fathers" as Elrond walked in dressed in his best robes and with the elven ring Narya on his finger. Winking at Legolas and smiling briefly at the human Boromir, she turned and saw Frodo, Bilbo and Gandalf enter and take their places.
As they sat, Elrond opened the Council and welcomed the participants, skipping the names of the elves of Imladris to save time. As the contents of the Council of Elrond are already published, I will not bore you with the details, save that there was much arguing and telling of events. When the Ring was revealed, however, the Elves stood back and watched it warily. As Gandalf spoke the long forbidden black speech, Morié covered her ears as if they burned and watched the Ring glow.
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As the Council disintegrated into arguing, Morié raised her eyebrows at Elrond in irritation and gave him a look that could melt the ice of Caradhas. As she rolled her eyes at Aragorn who sat still, out of the corner of her eyes she saw Frodo wince at the ring and understood. Waving her arms for quiet, she was ignored. Covering her eyes in despair, she heard him yell "I will take the Ring to Mordor, though I do not know the way" as the arguing stopped and all turned to see Frodo. Moving her hand, she stared at him with her eyes intently focused on him. Seeing that he intended to do this, she nodded at him with encouragement.
As Gandalf offered his services, she smiled at her uncle and watched Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli and Boromir volunteer to go with him. As she watched the bushes, she saw Sam peeking out and beckoned him forward discreetly. Running to his master, he stood by him and said "Mr Frodo's not going anywhere without me." Then, the hobbits Merry and Pippin ran out and stood as well. As Elrond pronounced the Fellowship of the Ring, she led the elves in cheering as Frodo looked down bashfully.
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After the council was dismissed, Morié sought Legolas who was standing by the waterfall in the gardens and watching the water spray out into the pool below. Going to him, Morié stroked his face softly and whispered to him "Legolas, mellon, what do you see?"
"I see nothing, brennil nin. The world is silent, darkened this night."
"Then you must look for hope, Meleth nin. It will always guide you in the dark, especially the hope you have in me. Gerich 'ûn sui raw. Do not let it die, for I will always watch you from afar and guide your steps, so trust to hope. I will never leave you as long as I have breath in my body and life in my veins and neither will the hope we have in each other. Uivelin le. Estelio enni."
As she whispered that, she turned his face towards her and they kissed passionately amongst the sunlight and the water. As they drew apart, she slipped something into his hand. Opening it, Legolas saw the necklace of her mother. As he tried to hand it back, she closed his hand around it and spoke softly.
"Like my cousin Arwen gave to Aragorn, I give you this necklace as a token of our love. Keep it with you always, mellon. As you wear it, think of me here and you will know there is hope. Do not show it to anyone, so that the hope we have may not dwindle like a rose when it is picked. For my heart is mine to choose to whom I give. It is never thrown away, but is eternally renewed, like the love we have for each other. Guren min gaim lin, thalionen."
As she backed away, she took a dagger from her girdle and handed it to him silently. As he fastened the necklace around his neck and took it, she touched his hand and whispered a prayer to the Valar to guide the dagger and then kissed him again, a lingering kiss that was still on his lips as she swished silently from the glade and left him there stunned...
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As the company left Imladris, Legolas looked back at the walls of the city. There, standing on the uppermost wall was Morié, her face turned towards him and her loosed hair billowing in the wind. Raising a hand, she waved as they marched away from her. With a tear on his face, Legolas waved back silently as she stood there with her arm raised. As he rounded a corner and the city disappeared, he could still see the image of the elleth standing there, burned into his memory as each step took him more away from her....
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Gwathel nin - My sworn sister
Adar - Father
Nin neth gwathel - My little sister
Brennil nin - My Lady
Muindor - My brother
Little fathers - Term of respect for Dwarves
Mellon - My friend
Meleth nin - My love
Uivelin le. Estelio enni - I will always love you, trust in me
Guren min gaim lin, thalionen - My heart is in your hands, my champion