DISCLAIMER: once again, I own nothing
A/N: okay, seriously this is the beginning of all the exciting stuff happening in this story (or at least as exciting as it's going to get : ) but just a little heads up: I will be going by the entire LotR series and I will have two more fics after this one . . .
So be ready!!
Ps. Kaye is not going to be apart of the fellowship, just to let you all know (I don't want any people yelling at me and saying: 'there are nine Ringwraiths for nine members of the fellowship!'(I read that in another LotR review)
:: "You Will Not Go"::
I did not stay to hear the rest of the council. Instead, I locked myself inside of my rooms. I tucked my knees up to my chin and let the tears wash over my face. I did not bother to move even when several visitors knocked on my doors. Oh, gods, I would have given anything to be alone.
So my father had not been lost . . .
He had been dead.
The news hit me like a lightning bolt. So long had I hoped that he was safe; that he was merely lost and unable to come home. But he had been killed; murdered by Saruman.
Why had he done it? Saruman had been a friend and ally, and we had trusted him . . .
And he had betrayed us; betrayed my father.
"Oh, gods," I murmured, "Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods . . . why Ilidas? Why my father? He did nothing wrong . . . he was as good a man as any, and Saruman had killed him . . ."
Because of me.
I hiccupped and rubbed my eyes on my knees. He had died because of me; because of Narulin. If I had never been given the ring, my father would have been alive and with us now.
But you would have never met Frodo, Sam, or Merry and Pippin! A voice in my head told me, you would have never seen or done many things!
But maybe it would have been better that way . . . I responded sadly . . . maybe Saruman would have never gone to Sauron's side if it weren't for me.
That's not true, Kaye . . .
"But it is . . . all of it is true . . ." I whispered.
I did not wish to continue arguing with myself and leaned back along my throw cushions. My eyes burned with my tears and were difficult to keep open. So eventually, I fell into a deep slumber.
So deep in fact, that I did not notice the "black stain" on Narulin spreading . . .
-------
"She seems secluded from the world, Aragorn . . . what's wrong with her?"
Elessar watched as Legolas stared after the girl. The elf had taken a sudden liking to Kaye over the past week, but she had suddenly turned gravely different after the council. She looked older and wiser in just a matter of days. Was it because of the newly formed fellowship? Or that several of her companions were leaving on a quest that could threaten their lives?
Or was it even about the Ring?
Kaye was now passing by them without a second glance. Her eyes were locked on a point in front of her.
Elrond suddenly stepped beside the two of them, "She was at the council."
Both of them stared at the elf lord curiously, "Where? I didn't see her there." Aragorn said and looked back after the half-elf.
He nodded sadly, "She was hidden from our sight . . . but she was there none-the-less," the elf lord sighed heavily, "She had no idea about her father or of Saruman's betrayal. She believed her father to be lost in the mountains and the White Wizard was keeping an eye out for him. I'm afraid that she hid among us—along with the other three hobbits—and listened in on the council."
"She did not know before?" Legolas asked bewildered, "Why didn't you tell her? She had the right to know!"
Elrond frowned, "I did not know myself until just a few days ago . . . I didn't mean for her to learn of her father's death like that . . ." he added quietly.
"She deserves an explanation, Elrond," Aragorn told him as he started to walk off.
Legolas started after him, "She does . . ."
The elf lord stood rigid for a moment and watched as Kaye sat herself down on a bench next to the river.
He owed it to both Taelin and Ilidas to set the story straight. It took him a moment, though, to build up his courage and finally step across the lawn towards her. Gods, this was going to be rough.
-------
"Kaye?"
She stirred slightly so that she could see Elrond, but did not respond. Her eyes seemed glazed over and distant, as though she didn't even hear him.
"Kaye, we need to talk . . ."
"What's there to talk about, Elrond?" she asked blankly, "Father's dead and Saruman has chosen the side of Sauron . . . there is nothing else to say . . ." her eyes narrowed dangerously, "Why? Is there something else I don't know?"
He shook his head, "No, Kaye, only that which has already been said--."
"Did you know?" She asked suddenly.
"Know what?"
"Did you know before the council . . . that my father was dead?" angry tears welled up in her eyes and she clenched her fists with the skirt of her gown.
"I did know, Kaye . . . but only for awhile . . . believe me, I did not wish for you to learn about your father's death this way. I swear I was going to tell you after the council . . ."
She did not respond. Her eyes watched him dangerously as if searching for some trace of a lie. This behavior was not like her and nearly frightened Elrond. Was this news so distressful that Kaye would let her anger rise to such a drastic level?
Her shoulders shook suddenly as the tears rolled off her cheeks and onto her open palms. One, he noticed held the healing remains of a thin white scar.
"Kaye . . . your father died a noble man . . ." Elrond murmured and clasped her hand in his, "He died fighting for you and you only . . . you should be proud of what he's done for you--!"
"I do not weep for my father, Elrond," she whispered softly, "I weep for the fact that Saruman has chosen against us and has fallen into the hands that cradle the very evil of Middle Earth . . ." she turned to him; her eyes read and swollen, "He was our friend, Elrond, does he not deserve our mourning also?"
The elf lord blinked and stared at her in awe, "But he killed your father . . ."
She smiled sadly, "I am not worried about my father . . . he was a great man and I know that the gods will honor him for that . . ." he smile faded, "Saruman, on the other hand has not been as honorable as he should . . . and now, now he needs our prayers more than ever . . ."
The elf lord could only stare at her. Ilidas was not even related to him and yet he felt the anger that Kaye should have been feeling . . .
But she wasn't angry at all . . .
She was merely sad . . .
Sad that Saruman had betrayed them when she should have been angry.
But what are you to expect from the Bearer of Narulin? The elf lord smiled weakly to himself. He should have trusted Taelin earlier . . . she was right in saying that her child was pure. It was as if the only evil she saw was in Sauron himself.
He heard her sigh, "Is it true Frodo is leaving? And the other hobbits too?" she asked after a moment.
Elrond bit his tongue. It was not enough that those at the council had learned of the departure of the ring, but now Kaye had been burdened with the news. Who else would know by the end of the week?
Kaye turned to him and waited, "I might not have been there for the entire council, Elrond, but I do have those who trust me with this information," she looked suddenly hurt, "Did you not wish for me to join them? To join my friends?"
The elf lord sighed and looked away, "You would have not been safe."
She frowned and stared at him, "I would be surrounded by my friends, Elrond, if we should come over troubled times, wouldn't they protect me?"
"No, Kaye . . . I have no doubt in your friends and that they would be willing to protect you . . . it is the Ring I fear."
Her eyes suddenly held a source of understanding and she looked down at her feet awkwardly, "Those pains I had . . . so they were really from the One?"
Elrond nodded sadly, "Kaye, your mother was one of my dearest friends, and you have been like a daughter to me all these years . . . I would never risk your life like that . . ."
"It was life-threatening?"
"Every second . . ." he said quietly, "We had no idea that Bilbo's magical ring was the One—if we had, we would have never sent you to the Shire in the first place . . . but now, since the Ring has been reawaken, you are not safe near it . . . ."
"So Frodo is to bear it alone?" she asked trying to hold back her tears, "And you did not believe that a friend could help him bear this burden?"
"Sam, Merry and Pippin have joined him too, Kaye; they will not let him suffer . . ."
A single tear rolled down her face, "But I will not be able to make sure of that, Elrond," she said on the verge of crying, "How am I to know that he will be alright? How am I to know that every day that passes he could be dead? He is my friend, Elrond! And like you and my mother were friends, he is my dearest!"
"Kaye, be reasonable . . . if you were to go, you may die! Your heart is too pure to be near to something as evil as the Ring!"
"I would rather die than watch my friend suffer while I do nothing!"
"You have helped him this far . . . this is a burden he must bear alone, now . . ." Elrond trailed off.
"It's not enough," Kaye said defiantly and whirled on him, "I cannot bring myself to sit back and watch him trudge off to Mordor on his own!"
The elf lord sighed heavily and stood slowly, "Kaye . . . you will not go with Frodo."
She stood up so abruptly that Elrond nearly stumbled backwards. Her eyes flared with hurt and tears flowed down her face.
She did not say a word as she hastened off into the heart of Rivendell.
-------
A/N: a little angst there, isn't it? Sorry this chapter was a little short (if I had gone on any longer this chapter might have been too long )
Be ready for chappie 11 coming soon!!
Ja'ne!!
A/N: okay, seriously this is the beginning of all the exciting stuff happening in this story (or at least as exciting as it's going to get : ) but just a little heads up: I will be going by the entire LotR series and I will have two more fics after this one . . .
So be ready!!
Ps. Kaye is not going to be apart of the fellowship, just to let you all know (I don't want any people yelling at me and saying: 'there are nine Ringwraiths for nine members of the fellowship!'(I read that in another LotR review)
:: "You Will Not Go"::
I did not stay to hear the rest of the council. Instead, I locked myself inside of my rooms. I tucked my knees up to my chin and let the tears wash over my face. I did not bother to move even when several visitors knocked on my doors. Oh, gods, I would have given anything to be alone.
So my father had not been lost . . .
He had been dead.
The news hit me like a lightning bolt. So long had I hoped that he was safe; that he was merely lost and unable to come home. But he had been killed; murdered by Saruman.
Why had he done it? Saruman had been a friend and ally, and we had trusted him . . .
And he had betrayed us; betrayed my father.
"Oh, gods," I murmured, "Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods . . . why Ilidas? Why my father? He did nothing wrong . . . he was as good a man as any, and Saruman had killed him . . ."
Because of me.
I hiccupped and rubbed my eyes on my knees. He had died because of me; because of Narulin. If I had never been given the ring, my father would have been alive and with us now.
But you would have never met Frodo, Sam, or Merry and Pippin! A voice in my head told me, you would have never seen or done many things!
But maybe it would have been better that way . . . I responded sadly . . . maybe Saruman would have never gone to Sauron's side if it weren't for me.
That's not true, Kaye . . .
"But it is . . . all of it is true . . ." I whispered.
I did not wish to continue arguing with myself and leaned back along my throw cushions. My eyes burned with my tears and were difficult to keep open. So eventually, I fell into a deep slumber.
So deep in fact, that I did not notice the "black stain" on Narulin spreading . . .
-------
"She seems secluded from the world, Aragorn . . . what's wrong with her?"
Elessar watched as Legolas stared after the girl. The elf had taken a sudden liking to Kaye over the past week, but she had suddenly turned gravely different after the council. She looked older and wiser in just a matter of days. Was it because of the newly formed fellowship? Or that several of her companions were leaving on a quest that could threaten their lives?
Or was it even about the Ring?
Kaye was now passing by them without a second glance. Her eyes were locked on a point in front of her.
Elrond suddenly stepped beside the two of them, "She was at the council."
Both of them stared at the elf lord curiously, "Where? I didn't see her there." Aragorn said and looked back after the half-elf.
He nodded sadly, "She was hidden from our sight . . . but she was there none-the-less," the elf lord sighed heavily, "She had no idea about her father or of Saruman's betrayal. She believed her father to be lost in the mountains and the White Wizard was keeping an eye out for him. I'm afraid that she hid among us—along with the other three hobbits—and listened in on the council."
"She did not know before?" Legolas asked bewildered, "Why didn't you tell her? She had the right to know!"
Elrond frowned, "I did not know myself until just a few days ago . . . I didn't mean for her to learn of her father's death like that . . ." he added quietly.
"She deserves an explanation, Elrond," Aragorn told him as he started to walk off.
Legolas started after him, "She does . . ."
The elf lord stood rigid for a moment and watched as Kaye sat herself down on a bench next to the river.
He owed it to both Taelin and Ilidas to set the story straight. It took him a moment, though, to build up his courage and finally step across the lawn towards her. Gods, this was going to be rough.
-------
"Kaye?"
She stirred slightly so that she could see Elrond, but did not respond. Her eyes seemed glazed over and distant, as though she didn't even hear him.
"Kaye, we need to talk . . ."
"What's there to talk about, Elrond?" she asked blankly, "Father's dead and Saruman has chosen the side of Sauron . . . there is nothing else to say . . ." her eyes narrowed dangerously, "Why? Is there something else I don't know?"
He shook his head, "No, Kaye, only that which has already been said--."
"Did you know?" She asked suddenly.
"Know what?"
"Did you know before the council . . . that my father was dead?" angry tears welled up in her eyes and she clenched her fists with the skirt of her gown.
"I did know, Kaye . . . but only for awhile . . . believe me, I did not wish for you to learn about your father's death this way. I swear I was going to tell you after the council . . ."
She did not respond. Her eyes watched him dangerously as if searching for some trace of a lie. This behavior was not like her and nearly frightened Elrond. Was this news so distressful that Kaye would let her anger rise to such a drastic level?
Her shoulders shook suddenly as the tears rolled off her cheeks and onto her open palms. One, he noticed held the healing remains of a thin white scar.
"Kaye . . . your father died a noble man . . ." Elrond murmured and clasped her hand in his, "He died fighting for you and you only . . . you should be proud of what he's done for you--!"
"I do not weep for my father, Elrond," she whispered softly, "I weep for the fact that Saruman has chosen against us and has fallen into the hands that cradle the very evil of Middle Earth . . ." she turned to him; her eyes read and swollen, "He was our friend, Elrond, does he not deserve our mourning also?"
The elf lord blinked and stared at her in awe, "But he killed your father . . ."
She smiled sadly, "I am not worried about my father . . . he was a great man and I know that the gods will honor him for that . . ." he smile faded, "Saruman, on the other hand has not been as honorable as he should . . . and now, now he needs our prayers more than ever . . ."
The elf lord could only stare at her. Ilidas was not even related to him and yet he felt the anger that Kaye should have been feeling . . .
But she wasn't angry at all . . .
She was merely sad . . .
Sad that Saruman had betrayed them when she should have been angry.
But what are you to expect from the Bearer of Narulin? The elf lord smiled weakly to himself. He should have trusted Taelin earlier . . . she was right in saying that her child was pure. It was as if the only evil she saw was in Sauron himself.
He heard her sigh, "Is it true Frodo is leaving? And the other hobbits too?" she asked after a moment.
Elrond bit his tongue. It was not enough that those at the council had learned of the departure of the ring, but now Kaye had been burdened with the news. Who else would know by the end of the week?
Kaye turned to him and waited, "I might not have been there for the entire council, Elrond, but I do have those who trust me with this information," she looked suddenly hurt, "Did you not wish for me to join them? To join my friends?"
The elf lord sighed and looked away, "You would have not been safe."
She frowned and stared at him, "I would be surrounded by my friends, Elrond, if we should come over troubled times, wouldn't they protect me?"
"No, Kaye . . . I have no doubt in your friends and that they would be willing to protect you . . . it is the Ring I fear."
Her eyes suddenly held a source of understanding and she looked down at her feet awkwardly, "Those pains I had . . . so they were really from the One?"
Elrond nodded sadly, "Kaye, your mother was one of my dearest friends, and you have been like a daughter to me all these years . . . I would never risk your life like that . . ."
"It was life-threatening?"
"Every second . . ." he said quietly, "We had no idea that Bilbo's magical ring was the One—if we had, we would have never sent you to the Shire in the first place . . . but now, since the Ring has been reawaken, you are not safe near it . . . ."
"So Frodo is to bear it alone?" she asked trying to hold back her tears, "And you did not believe that a friend could help him bear this burden?"
"Sam, Merry and Pippin have joined him too, Kaye; they will not let him suffer . . ."
A single tear rolled down her face, "But I will not be able to make sure of that, Elrond," she said on the verge of crying, "How am I to know that he will be alright? How am I to know that every day that passes he could be dead? He is my friend, Elrond! And like you and my mother were friends, he is my dearest!"
"Kaye, be reasonable . . . if you were to go, you may die! Your heart is too pure to be near to something as evil as the Ring!"
"I would rather die than watch my friend suffer while I do nothing!"
"You have helped him this far . . . this is a burden he must bear alone, now . . ." Elrond trailed off.
"It's not enough," Kaye said defiantly and whirled on him, "I cannot bring myself to sit back and watch him trudge off to Mordor on his own!"
The elf lord sighed heavily and stood slowly, "Kaye . . . you will not go with Frodo."
She stood up so abruptly that Elrond nearly stumbled backwards. Her eyes flared with hurt and tears flowed down her face.
She did not say a word as she hastened off into the heart of Rivendell.
-------
A/N: a little angst there, isn't it? Sorry this chapter was a little short (if I had gone on any longer this chapter might have been too long )
Be ready for chappie 11 coming soon!!
Ja'ne!!