Chapter Two: The Road To Imladris
The roads I traveled those days were dark and lonely ones, full of shadow. Over time, I became accustomed to my solitude but did not hurry along the path. Three months after I left the Havens, I became suddenly aware that I was drawing near to Rivendell. I could feel the joy of the Elves and the sorrow. I am not a very sensitive Empath, and can only sense things within a certain distance. I was overjoyed to be this close to Imladris, and I quickened my pace.
One day I was just breaking camp when a large silver object hurtled over the tree line, aimed straight at my head. I ducked, but too slow as the creature's talons caught in my hair and pulled me over. I hit the ground and hastened to untangle the bird from my dark blonde hair. Having done so, I sat up and laughed as the bird hastened to mend what remained of her pride.
I recognized her as a Hawk of Taniquetil though where she was headed or what her purpose was a mystery to me. I stood up, thinking that the young Hawk would simply be on her way. I rolled my extra cloak into a pouch around my waist and started a quick march to Imladris, picking an apple from a low hanging tree as I went.
The sun was high in the sky when I heard the rustling of leaves behind me. I stopped suddenly and dropped into the bushes, drawing my knife.
It wasn't long before I saw her and I laughed aloud. There was the Hawk, following by hopping along behind me. Why she didn't fly was a mystery, but it was clear to me then that I was being followed. I stepped out of the bushes and spoke to the bird for the first time.
"It would appear that you and I travel in the same direction. Have you a reason?" I used common tongue just in case, but the Hawk's response was only to hop over to me and climb to my shoulder. It was then that I noticed she had been badly beaten. She looked like a Princess who had been rejected by her people, if she was of royal blood, she would be blessed with a lengthy lifespan, that is, if she could survive her wounds.
I tended to her wounds with what healing I knew. I bound the gash on her leg and when I was done I lifted the majestic animal to my shoulder and spoke softly to her in Elvish.
"As you are unable to speak," I said as I walked "I don't know how you shall tell me your rightful name."
She did not give me any sign that I was wrong, so I continued.
"So I will tell give you a name, and if you should disagree, you can peck me in the ear." I smiled, "Perhaps Nufenien?" My response was a sharp pain in my left ear. "Alright then, Perrantiel?" She moved, this time digging her talons into my shoulder. I considered it for a long time as I walked through the trees, the Silver hawk on my shoulder "Enhith?" I said at last, thinking of her position on my shoulder, tensing for possible pain, but none came. "That's it?" I asked, disbelieving. She merely stared forward, her piercing blue eyes looking through the trees straight ahead.
It appeared that Enhith and I would be traveling together for quite some time so as we journeyed East, I used all my knowledge and ability to heal her wounds properly so she could return to the hunt but for the most part I was unsuccessful and left Enhith in obvious pain.
I was a day's quick march from Rivendell when an incredible pain suddenly overwhelmed me. I pulled myself as far as the Ford before my pain became too much and I collapsed.
I do not know how long I lay asleep but when I awoke I was in the House of Elrond. The first sight I had of the famed Rivendell was that of a carved ceiling in a chamber where I had been placed after I was found beside the Ford.
I rolled over in the soft bed to see Enhith on a magnificent perch near the balcony, she had been healed during my sleep and upon seeing that I was awake, she happily flapped over to my bed and sat on my head.
"Good morning to you as well friend!" I laughed, lifting the fair bird from my scalp "I see that you have recovered nicely!"
"She is not the only one." A calm voice said from the entrance to the chamber. "I see the young elf has awakened."
I turned to see an Elf, who I could only guess to be Elrond, dressed in long blue robes, standing on the threshold. He gestured to a small side table "You should find all appropriate garments for you here, I leave you to your biding."
He left and slowly, I climbed out of the bed. I walked to the table and beheld the fair dresses that had been laid out for me and I shuddered. While in the Havens, I wore dresses only when I was called to be in public for a formal occasion, I sighed, knowing that I must be expected for something formal and slipped into the soft purple gown with long sleeves. I had barely finished putting it on when two young Elven maids entered the chamber. They were both fairer then I and their deep blue eyes were joyous as they introduced themselves as Eriâth and Dimernil. They sat me down and brushed my long hair smoothly but quickly. They tied it back into a single braid before leading me from the chamber onto an open pavilion.
This was my first real sight of Imladris. Trees were in bloom, elven children played and seated on the Pavilion was Elrond Half-Elven and several lords of the house.
"Please, stranger, sit." Elrond said, his voice reminded me of water rushing over smooth stones in a narrow creek, I lowered myself into the chair provided for me. "We wish to know, exactly who you are and why you were found at the brink of the Ford."
I spoke slowly, noting that my every word was being documented by a dark Elf dressed in teal.
"My name is Lhunrothien, child of Laughter." I said, choosing my words carefully, "I am traveling East from Mithlond to seek answers. I am Empathic and as I reached the Ford, I was overcome by a terrible grief, one that I could not bear, and I collapsed."
Elrond looked at me, his dark eyes piercing mine.
"You know nothing of you past?" He asked
"None but that my parents sailed to the Undying lands when I was very young. I was raised by Cìrdan of Mithlond."
"Cìrdan has a good heart." One of the Lords said, "He must have seen something in you to have taken you in as his own child."
"I know not his reasoning." I responded.
"Nor I." Elrond mused, "But I will see what can be seen of this matter of your family, and your unique abilities. As for the incredible grief."
A hush fell over those assembled. I pleaded into Elrond's eyes, 'Tell me please, I have suffered greatly.'
"Word has reached us that Sauron the Deciever has given nine Rings of Power to Nine mortal Kings of Men." He answered her inward cries, "They have fallen into shadow, and three days ago we received word that one such King had emerged from Sauron's fortress in the South."
I nodded, for that was all I could do. I rose and bowed to Elrond. He did the same and I left the council. The dread on my heart had not been lessoned, but the questions in my mind had reached a new level. I went back to my room and as Enhith looked on, I cracked under the pain that the council had felt, and I cried.
The roads I traveled those days were dark and lonely ones, full of shadow. Over time, I became accustomed to my solitude but did not hurry along the path. Three months after I left the Havens, I became suddenly aware that I was drawing near to Rivendell. I could feel the joy of the Elves and the sorrow. I am not a very sensitive Empath, and can only sense things within a certain distance. I was overjoyed to be this close to Imladris, and I quickened my pace.
One day I was just breaking camp when a large silver object hurtled over the tree line, aimed straight at my head. I ducked, but too slow as the creature's talons caught in my hair and pulled me over. I hit the ground and hastened to untangle the bird from my dark blonde hair. Having done so, I sat up and laughed as the bird hastened to mend what remained of her pride.
I recognized her as a Hawk of Taniquetil though where she was headed or what her purpose was a mystery to me. I stood up, thinking that the young Hawk would simply be on her way. I rolled my extra cloak into a pouch around my waist and started a quick march to Imladris, picking an apple from a low hanging tree as I went.
The sun was high in the sky when I heard the rustling of leaves behind me. I stopped suddenly and dropped into the bushes, drawing my knife.
It wasn't long before I saw her and I laughed aloud. There was the Hawk, following by hopping along behind me. Why she didn't fly was a mystery, but it was clear to me then that I was being followed. I stepped out of the bushes and spoke to the bird for the first time.
"It would appear that you and I travel in the same direction. Have you a reason?" I used common tongue just in case, but the Hawk's response was only to hop over to me and climb to my shoulder. It was then that I noticed she had been badly beaten. She looked like a Princess who had been rejected by her people, if she was of royal blood, she would be blessed with a lengthy lifespan, that is, if she could survive her wounds.
I tended to her wounds with what healing I knew. I bound the gash on her leg and when I was done I lifted the majestic animal to my shoulder and spoke softly to her in Elvish.
"As you are unable to speak," I said as I walked "I don't know how you shall tell me your rightful name."
She did not give me any sign that I was wrong, so I continued.
"So I will tell give you a name, and if you should disagree, you can peck me in the ear." I smiled, "Perhaps Nufenien?" My response was a sharp pain in my left ear. "Alright then, Perrantiel?" She moved, this time digging her talons into my shoulder. I considered it for a long time as I walked through the trees, the Silver hawk on my shoulder "Enhith?" I said at last, thinking of her position on my shoulder, tensing for possible pain, but none came. "That's it?" I asked, disbelieving. She merely stared forward, her piercing blue eyes looking through the trees straight ahead.
It appeared that Enhith and I would be traveling together for quite some time so as we journeyed East, I used all my knowledge and ability to heal her wounds properly so she could return to the hunt but for the most part I was unsuccessful and left Enhith in obvious pain.
I was a day's quick march from Rivendell when an incredible pain suddenly overwhelmed me. I pulled myself as far as the Ford before my pain became too much and I collapsed.
I do not know how long I lay asleep but when I awoke I was in the House of Elrond. The first sight I had of the famed Rivendell was that of a carved ceiling in a chamber where I had been placed after I was found beside the Ford.
I rolled over in the soft bed to see Enhith on a magnificent perch near the balcony, she had been healed during my sleep and upon seeing that I was awake, she happily flapped over to my bed and sat on my head.
"Good morning to you as well friend!" I laughed, lifting the fair bird from my scalp "I see that you have recovered nicely!"
"She is not the only one." A calm voice said from the entrance to the chamber. "I see the young elf has awakened."
I turned to see an Elf, who I could only guess to be Elrond, dressed in long blue robes, standing on the threshold. He gestured to a small side table "You should find all appropriate garments for you here, I leave you to your biding."
He left and slowly, I climbed out of the bed. I walked to the table and beheld the fair dresses that had been laid out for me and I shuddered. While in the Havens, I wore dresses only when I was called to be in public for a formal occasion, I sighed, knowing that I must be expected for something formal and slipped into the soft purple gown with long sleeves. I had barely finished putting it on when two young Elven maids entered the chamber. They were both fairer then I and their deep blue eyes were joyous as they introduced themselves as Eriâth and Dimernil. They sat me down and brushed my long hair smoothly but quickly. They tied it back into a single braid before leading me from the chamber onto an open pavilion.
This was my first real sight of Imladris. Trees were in bloom, elven children played and seated on the Pavilion was Elrond Half-Elven and several lords of the house.
"Please, stranger, sit." Elrond said, his voice reminded me of water rushing over smooth stones in a narrow creek, I lowered myself into the chair provided for me. "We wish to know, exactly who you are and why you were found at the brink of the Ford."
I spoke slowly, noting that my every word was being documented by a dark Elf dressed in teal.
"My name is Lhunrothien, child of Laughter." I said, choosing my words carefully, "I am traveling East from Mithlond to seek answers. I am Empathic and as I reached the Ford, I was overcome by a terrible grief, one that I could not bear, and I collapsed."
Elrond looked at me, his dark eyes piercing mine.
"You know nothing of you past?" He asked
"None but that my parents sailed to the Undying lands when I was very young. I was raised by Cìrdan of Mithlond."
"Cìrdan has a good heart." One of the Lords said, "He must have seen something in you to have taken you in as his own child."
"I know not his reasoning." I responded.
"Nor I." Elrond mused, "But I will see what can be seen of this matter of your family, and your unique abilities. As for the incredible grief."
A hush fell over those assembled. I pleaded into Elrond's eyes, 'Tell me please, I have suffered greatly.'
"Word has reached us that Sauron the Deciever has given nine Rings of Power to Nine mortal Kings of Men." He answered her inward cries, "They have fallen into shadow, and three days ago we received word that one such King had emerged from Sauron's fortress in the South."
I nodded, for that was all I could do. I rose and bowed to Elrond. He did the same and I left the council. The dread on my heart had not been lessoned, but the questions in my mind had reached a new level. I went back to my room and as Enhith looked on, I cracked under the pain that the council had felt, and I cried.