A/N: Writer's block over. Now cometh the TRUE Rian-Celine!
Ch. 10
The Council of Elrond sat in the great hall. Curfinwen sat at Elrond's right hand as the daughter of Melian. Though she could not hear, her ability to read lips over the course of 17 years was vastly improved, and so she knew most of what was said. Sometimes she made reply to some query, and then her true nature, that becoming a daughter of Melian, shone forth in her wisdom, courage, beauty. The Council was astounded, but at last came to the conclusion.
"Nine will go on the Quest to destroy the Ring: Frodo, his faithful servant Sam, his friends Merry and Pippin, Gandalf, Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli."
But Frodo looked wistfully at Curfinwen, his thoughts communicated themselves to the Lady. And then she knew what she must do.
"And with this Fellowship will come Curfinwen," she said. And the hearts of the Fellows, which had been sunk down in gloom, were lifted.
Curfinwen was very quiet for the first part of the journey. In the presence of a Maia, a half-Maia must keep a low profile. Gandalf however, often asked her for advice. She was aware, too, that the Fellowship as a group was usually staring at her, or trying very hard not to stare. Once in Moria, however, she grew more melancholy. She knew Gandalf knew he was going to die. And he was not doing anything about it. But Curfinwen could not resist scaring all the orcs back into their measly holes after the Fellowship had had their fill of slaughter. Then she attempted to help Gandalf counter the Balrog's spell.
"Begone, Rian-Celine! This is no place for a half-elf!" Gandalf cried to her in a fit. The truth was her spells were confusing him.
"I may be only half Maia, but have I not the Ring of Melian?" Curfinwen exclaimed. In anger she left him to battle alone, leading instead the rest of the Fellowship to the Bridge. There she beheld the true might of the last Balrog of Morgoth, and felt Gandalf straining. But still she was angry, and would not help.
"Fly you fools!"
Curfinwen watched in horror as the Balrog and Gandalf fell. Legolas practically dragged her away from the chasm, for she looked ready to jump after them. At last the Fellowship gained the open sky. Curfinwen fell to the ground, weeping. The other's forgot their own grief at the sight of hers. Legolas dared to comfort her, saying it was not her fault. Curfinwen pushed him away.
"It WAS my fault. Had I helped him, he would not have fallen. I was angry. It is all my fault."
'No, it is not. Gandalf was meant to fall; why I cannot comprehend. But there is nothing you could have done that would make things better. Don't be angry at yourself. The Fellowship needs you.' Legolas tried to persuade her. Curfinwen looked up into the clear green eyes of the wood-elf. He was right. Gandalf would come back. She wasn't sad for Gandalf. She was angry with herself for being angry. Mollified, Curfinwen rose to her feet.
"Come! In Lorien we will rest. Hurry, or the foul folk of Moria will be upon us."
Ch. 10
The Council of Elrond sat in the great hall. Curfinwen sat at Elrond's right hand as the daughter of Melian. Though she could not hear, her ability to read lips over the course of 17 years was vastly improved, and so she knew most of what was said. Sometimes she made reply to some query, and then her true nature, that becoming a daughter of Melian, shone forth in her wisdom, courage, beauty. The Council was astounded, but at last came to the conclusion.
"Nine will go on the Quest to destroy the Ring: Frodo, his faithful servant Sam, his friends Merry and Pippin, Gandalf, Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli."
But Frodo looked wistfully at Curfinwen, his thoughts communicated themselves to the Lady. And then she knew what she must do.
"And with this Fellowship will come Curfinwen," she said. And the hearts of the Fellows, which had been sunk down in gloom, were lifted.
Curfinwen was very quiet for the first part of the journey. In the presence of a Maia, a half-Maia must keep a low profile. Gandalf however, often asked her for advice. She was aware, too, that the Fellowship as a group was usually staring at her, or trying very hard not to stare. Once in Moria, however, she grew more melancholy. She knew Gandalf knew he was going to die. And he was not doing anything about it. But Curfinwen could not resist scaring all the orcs back into their measly holes after the Fellowship had had their fill of slaughter. Then she attempted to help Gandalf counter the Balrog's spell.
"Begone, Rian-Celine! This is no place for a half-elf!" Gandalf cried to her in a fit. The truth was her spells were confusing him.
"I may be only half Maia, but have I not the Ring of Melian?" Curfinwen exclaimed. In anger she left him to battle alone, leading instead the rest of the Fellowship to the Bridge. There she beheld the true might of the last Balrog of Morgoth, and felt Gandalf straining. But still she was angry, and would not help.
"Fly you fools!"
Curfinwen watched in horror as the Balrog and Gandalf fell. Legolas practically dragged her away from the chasm, for she looked ready to jump after them. At last the Fellowship gained the open sky. Curfinwen fell to the ground, weeping. The other's forgot their own grief at the sight of hers. Legolas dared to comfort her, saying it was not her fault. Curfinwen pushed him away.
"It WAS my fault. Had I helped him, he would not have fallen. I was angry. It is all my fault."
'No, it is not. Gandalf was meant to fall; why I cannot comprehend. But there is nothing you could have done that would make things better. Don't be angry at yourself. The Fellowship needs you.' Legolas tried to persuade her. Curfinwen looked up into the clear green eyes of the wood-elf. He was right. Gandalf would come back. She wasn't sad for Gandalf. She was angry with herself for being angry. Mollified, Curfinwen rose to her feet.
"Come! In Lorien we will rest. Hurry, or the foul folk of Moria will be upon us."