AN: Just to warn some of you that are looking for instant romance: this fic is long for a reason. Consider "Niirer" as a roller coaster: slowly, over time, Celebithil will meet Boromir and a relationship will develop from hostility to eventual love... and then of course, Boromir will leave forever and the car will reach the top and go plunging down through twists and turns and endless loops and Celebithil struggles to keep going with life, and remains vulnerable to Sauron...
Eep! But only on chapter 1 now! ;D
And remember, this is what I'm calling an AF fic-- an Alternate Future. The souls of the senshi are born into Middle Earth as their first life (before the Silver Millenium), so they will not actually because sailor soldiers, though they may posess similar powers.
Sorry again for the lack of accent marks. "..." is talking, '...' is thought, [...] is AN or definition (mini-elvish dictionary coming next time, and gomen if I mix up Sindarin and Quenya!), (...) is extra info but part of the fic, ... means trailed off, -- means interrupted. Onto the fic!
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Lady Galadriel was bent over her mirror. Images flashed before her eyes as she let the waters work their own magic. Dark tunnels. Sparkling caves. Walking trees. Deadly spiders. Ships, many ships. Fires. War. Darkness. And a great fiery eye searching, always searching.
There was a faint rustle in the bushes behind her. The Lady of the Golden Wood pushed the disturbing images aside and smiled fondly. "You need to be more cautious, Celebithil. More like the hobbits."
There was a sigh, and a golden-haired elf rose from her hiding spot. "How did you know it was I?"
"How many times have you hidden in the same spot, hoping to catch a glimpse of my mirror?"
The girl called Celebithil gave up and hopped down to where the elder elf stood. Her appearance gave the impression of a girl in her late teens to early twenty's by Men's standards, but in actuality she was nearly two millennia old. Her face shone with a youthful sheen, and her eyes were the clearest blue. Her golden hair- or was it silver?- was done up in two buns on either side of her head, and the rest streamed down to sweep the ground, considered long even among her people.
"Hobbits?" she questioned. "What did you mean by 'hobbits'?"
"The Perriannath, or Halflings in the Common Tongue."
"Mani?! [What?!] They still exist? It has been many long years since I have heard that name."
Galadriel only nodded. "Ume [Yes], and now it seems that the fate of Middle Earth rests in their hands."
Celebithil's blue eyes looked up at the Elven queen's immaculate face. "Amin n'rangwa. What do you mean?" [I don't understand.]
Galadriel didn't respond immediately. Instead she walked back over to the basin of water. "Come, it is time for your first look into the Mirror of Galadriel."
Celebithil was quickly at her side. "Will I be free to let it work on its own?"
Galadriel smiled but shook her head, her motherly concern obvious for the much younger elf. "N'ume, no not yet. The Mirror shows many dangerous things when left to work on its own, things that you are not yet ready to see. I will command it to show you what should be seen."
Celebithil's face fell a bit, but she looked intently into the waters.
At first, she saw only her own reflection. But slowly the waters changed. She recognized the protected valley of her home, Imladris [Rivendell]. Colorful leaves were falling- it was autumn. There was her father, seated and holding some type of council. Representatives of all peoples sat around him- Elves, Men, Dwarves, and even Perriannath.
Then the scene changed again. Nine companions leaving the refuge of Imladris- One for the Elves, two for the Men, one for the Dwarves, four for the Perriannath, and one for the Istari [Wizards]. Even as the scene flashed by, she recognized Mithrandir [Gandalf's name amongst the elves] and Aragorn, both of whom she had known for many years and was close in friendship.
She watched them pass through the ancient land of Eregion and struggle through the snows of Caradhras. They battled the wolves and fled to the Elven gate of Moria that glowed silver in the Moonlight. She watched as they entered into the darkness of the ancient Dwarven realm and the doors were slammed shut. Then the mirror went black and returned to normal.
She looked up at the Lady of the Wood, her face full of questions. "I still don't understand. What was that?"
Galadriel looked at her seriously. "That, my dear child, was the Fellowship of the Ring. Messengers have been sent from your father in Imladris concerning them. Nine there were that set out: Aragorn Elessar, heir of Isildur of the Dunedain; Boromir son of Denethor of Gondor; Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Meridoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took of the Shire, representing the Periannath; Gimli son of Gloin of Erebor [Lonely Mountain]; Legolas Greenleaf son of Thranduil of Mirkwood; and Lord Mithrandir of the Istari, their leader. You witnessed the progress and trials of this company. Their disaster on Caradhras is only firmer proof of how unsafe travel is these days. I fear it may be many long years before we are able to return you to Imladris once more, if indeed ever again."
Celebithil turned away as she looked up, remembering. Ten years had passed since her father had sent for her. Ten long years. Her sister, Arwen Undomiel, and she had been in the land of their mother's people, Lothlorien. Her father had sent for them to return to Imladris. Evil was growing. Arwen had returned unscathed. Celebithil had not.
Her grandmother's mirror sent many warnings of the perils that would befall the girl, were she to leave. Much had already been lost in the Redhorn Pass when Celebrian, daughter of Galadriel and mother of Celebithil, had been poisoned. Neither the Galadhrim nor the people of Imladris wished to meddle with Fate, and risk losing the Silvermoon that, though stubborn and insubordinate, they loved so much. She remained guarded in Lothlorien.
So it had been ten years since she had seen her dear sister. More than ten years had passed since she had seen her twin brothers, Elladan and Elrohir. More than ten years since she had seen the beautiful valley of Imladris. More than ten years since she had seen her father, Lord Elrond Peredhel.
Ten years may be nothing to immortality, but it is forever to the aching heart.
She missed them all dearly. But the safety of the Pass had only worsened over the years. Today it was death to all who dared attempt it.
Water began to fill her clear eyes at the sharp truth in her grandmother's words. She tried vainly to hold them back. Galadriel bent down and took the girl into her arms. "Amin hiraetha," [I am sorry] she said soothingly. "Each day his heart aches for his silver moon. Every night he prays to Elbereth and our beloved Gil-Estel, Earendil, to bring you home. They all do."
"I wouldn't be so sure," she said almost angrily. She attempted to lock up her pain once more.
Galadriel bent down to the smaller elf. "I feel his pain each day. You are not the only one who regrets the past. I cannot communicate how much he wishes to take back the rash words that were exchanged."
Galadriel had broken down the proud dam. Sobs escaped the girl's throat, and for the first time in years, she let out the lonely tears she held inside and cried for the family she missed so much.
At length, she began to recover. She quickly wiped her eyes on her sleeve and attempted to recover her dignity as well as her composure. "But-- but Aragorn and Mithrandir will be coming to Lorien?" she said, changing the subject to friends she had not seen for decades.
Galadriel sighed. "Amin n'sinta. [I do not know.] It is true that they intended to lead the Company here, but as always, Mithrandir is covered by a grey mist in my eyes. They have entered the Mines of Moria, Khazad-dum. I do not know what they may find there."
Celebithil's face blanched- she had heard the tales of the horrors of Moria. "But why need they go to Moria? Why do they travel? Why did they set out to begin with?"
Her grandmother sighed again. "Do you recall the tale of the Rings of Power?"
"How could we of Lorien forget?" she replied, glancing at Nenya, the elven ring of Adament, that sat on her grandmother's finger.
"Ume, but do you remember the full tale? Do you remember the song? "
In response, Celebithil began to sing the mysterious ancient tune softly, barely above a whisper, and yet clear as a silvery mountain stream meandering towards the Sea.
"Three rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie."
"Yes," responded Galadriel seriously. "Well, the One Ring has been found again..."
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AN: Never fear to anti-Mary Sue-ers. Celebithil (or Usagi) is far from a Mary Sue, as you will soon see. She is anything but perfect and has a lot to learn from harsh reality. But also, the character Celebithil is descended from the fairest ever (extra brownie points if you know who!) and so she's going to be at least pretty. And all elves are renowned for their lovely voices, though the true great voice of this tale is Narfea, whom you shall meet later.
If you missed it, Celebithil means Silver Moon. It is more of a title, like Undomiel [Evenstar] for Arwen. Her true name is Eldasil, which means Silver Light of the Stars.
Hope you liked it. Other senshi arrive next time! Please review! Namarie!
~Calli-chan