Chapter Three: Mystery Revealed
Several weeks passed before I could emerge from my room. Rivendell was smaller then Lindon but the hundreds of Elves who dwelt here felt the brute force of the world's darkness. There was fear in that place, such as I had never felt before.
During those weeks, I threw myself into the task of learning the history and the songs of my people. Eriâth brought me books and maps and I learned about the workings of Arda. I learned of the cities of Men and the cities of the Dwarves. By the time the pain lessoned, I was a learned Bard, but the tidings of the world as I saw them were Dark, and when I left my room, I went in search of Elrond Half-Elven.
I found him with a fair Elven maiden. Their heart's were light and I smiled as I drew near to them.
"My Lord Elrond." I said softly, "May I have a word with you?"
Elrond looked at me for a moment before nodding. The Elven maid walked a short distance away and Elrond motioned for me to sit down.
"Do you know why I am empathic?" I asked hesitantly.
Elrond sighed and did not answer immediately. "I sent word to Cìrdan, telling him that you had arrived and I asked him if he had any knowledge of your parents. Word arrived yesturday before dusk.
"Cìrdan thanked me for my concern. He said that as far as he knew, you were born in 1500 of the second age, but you were born to Celebrimbor in Hollin before your mother Tarahawen brought you to the Haven's to protect you from Sauron."
"You mean, Celebrimbor was my father?" I asked disbelieving, I had read of the great Jewel Smith in my studies. "But, he was no Empath, was Tarahawen?"
"No." Elrond said shortly "Cìrdan feels that your unique abilities come from the day of your birth. For you see, Lhunrothien, you were born on the same day that the first Ring of Power was completed."
"But, all records say that Celebrimbor had no wife or children." I was puzzled, "Why was my existence hidden from the rest of the world?"
"As you may already be aware, Celebrimbor and his smiths created nineteen Rings of Power with Sauron's help." Elrond explained, "Three for the Elves, Seven for the Dwarves and Nine for Men. When it became clear that Sauron had other purposes, Tarahawen left Hollin at Celebrimbor's request and brought you to the Havens. Not long after, they received news that Eregion had been destroyed and Celebrimbor was dead. Your mother sailed to the undying lands not long afterwards, she couldn't cope with the loss."
I sat in silence, he hadn't really answered my question, but I didn't know what to say. I stared at my hands on my knees. Finally, I brought myself to look up and meet Elrond's gaze.
"Why was it so important that I be hidden?" I asked again
"As Celebrimbor's daughter, you hold the power and ability of Eregion, but something else, you, and only you, have the ability to break Sauron's link to the Rings Of Power. That Ring you wear on your finger, Celebrimbor made that for you in secret before the Elves declared war on Sauron. He used all that Sauron had taught him, but against Sauron's evil. That Ring, is a Lesser Ring of Power."
I looked down at the blue stone shining on my finger. "This ring is magic?" I asked
"It is Arawing, the 'Daughter Ring,' and according to Cìrdan's records, a messanger brought it from Hollin but Tarahawen left it in his care until such a time that you were old enough to receive it." Elrond said, examining the ring, "Know this Lhunrothien, Sauron's forces can never know who you really are. Under no circumstances can your parentage be discovered."
"I understand." I nodded and stood, "I will not stay for very much longer. Thank you for your gracious hospitality."
"Your welcome." Elrond rose as well, "You have a hard path ahead of you, good luck."
I nodded and left the garden, heading back to my chamber and to the silent company of Enhith.
Several weeks passed before I could emerge from my room. Rivendell was smaller then Lindon but the hundreds of Elves who dwelt here felt the brute force of the world's darkness. There was fear in that place, such as I had never felt before.
During those weeks, I threw myself into the task of learning the history and the songs of my people. Eriâth brought me books and maps and I learned about the workings of Arda. I learned of the cities of Men and the cities of the Dwarves. By the time the pain lessoned, I was a learned Bard, but the tidings of the world as I saw them were Dark, and when I left my room, I went in search of Elrond Half-Elven.
I found him with a fair Elven maiden. Their heart's were light and I smiled as I drew near to them.
"My Lord Elrond." I said softly, "May I have a word with you?"
Elrond looked at me for a moment before nodding. The Elven maid walked a short distance away and Elrond motioned for me to sit down.
"Do you know why I am empathic?" I asked hesitantly.
Elrond sighed and did not answer immediately. "I sent word to Cìrdan, telling him that you had arrived and I asked him if he had any knowledge of your parents. Word arrived yesturday before dusk.
"Cìrdan thanked me for my concern. He said that as far as he knew, you were born in 1500 of the second age, but you were born to Celebrimbor in Hollin before your mother Tarahawen brought you to the Haven's to protect you from Sauron."
"You mean, Celebrimbor was my father?" I asked disbelieving, I had read of the great Jewel Smith in my studies. "But, he was no Empath, was Tarahawen?"
"No." Elrond said shortly "Cìrdan feels that your unique abilities come from the day of your birth. For you see, Lhunrothien, you were born on the same day that the first Ring of Power was completed."
"But, all records say that Celebrimbor had no wife or children." I was puzzled, "Why was my existence hidden from the rest of the world?"
"As you may already be aware, Celebrimbor and his smiths created nineteen Rings of Power with Sauron's help." Elrond explained, "Three for the Elves, Seven for the Dwarves and Nine for Men. When it became clear that Sauron had other purposes, Tarahawen left Hollin at Celebrimbor's request and brought you to the Havens. Not long after, they received news that Eregion had been destroyed and Celebrimbor was dead. Your mother sailed to the undying lands not long afterwards, she couldn't cope with the loss."
I sat in silence, he hadn't really answered my question, but I didn't know what to say. I stared at my hands on my knees. Finally, I brought myself to look up and meet Elrond's gaze.
"Why was it so important that I be hidden?" I asked again
"As Celebrimbor's daughter, you hold the power and ability of Eregion, but something else, you, and only you, have the ability to break Sauron's link to the Rings Of Power. That Ring you wear on your finger, Celebrimbor made that for you in secret before the Elves declared war on Sauron. He used all that Sauron had taught him, but against Sauron's evil. That Ring, is a Lesser Ring of Power."
I looked down at the blue stone shining on my finger. "This ring is magic?" I asked
"It is Arawing, the 'Daughter Ring,' and according to Cìrdan's records, a messanger brought it from Hollin but Tarahawen left it in his care until such a time that you were old enough to receive it." Elrond said, examining the ring, "Know this Lhunrothien, Sauron's forces can never know who you really are. Under no circumstances can your parentage be discovered."
"I understand." I nodded and stood, "I will not stay for very much longer. Thank you for your gracious hospitality."
"Your welcome." Elrond rose as well, "You have a hard path ahead of you, good luck."
I nodded and left the garden, heading back to my chamber and to the silent company of Enhith.