A Dream Awakened

Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR but I do own my character and plot

"You can relax now, Melethril" Elrond's soft voice echoed in my head as he released his hands from the sides of my head.

I sank back onto my pillows and tried to loosen up my tense muscles when Arwen came in.

"Did you have another nightmare?" she asked concerned.

"No, it was a dream," I reassured clasping her hand. "A dream of someone trying to stop me from jumping."

"You have been having this dream constantly," Elrond said troubled.

"This man, can you remember anything distinct about him?" Arwen inquired.

"Well, he was singing in elvish. My back was facing him so I couldn't see his face," I bitterly uttered the last sentence.

"Perhaps you should get some rest, Melethril, we can talk about this later" he advised.

"Yes, later. " I answered wearily.

"I bring good news," Arwen announced after her father left.

"Oh?"

"Yes, the ring has come to reside here. A hobbit and his three companions arrived here yesterday with Aragorn. Father plans on calling a council. You can travel again!"

"I do hope so, but the council must decide whether I am permitted to go." I sighed climbing out of bed. I knew where she was going with this.

"I think I'll wear the blue dress for the council," I decided.

"Legolas will be there, his father sent him and two others," Arwen said quietly.

I was silent for a moment. "It has been many years."

When the cold of winter comes

Starless night will cover day

In the veiling of the sun

We will walk in bitter rain

But in dreams

I still hear your name

And in dreams

We will meet again

When the seas and mountains fall

And we come to the end of days

In the dark I hear a call

Calling me there

I will go there

And back again.

(LOTR FOTR soundtrack "In dreams")

Legolas

She was so radiant and yet so delicate. I could see her profile from miles away. Her hair, which had once been down to her waist, was now to her chin. Her eyes once sparkled but there seem to be no light in them. She was dressed in a dark blue gown standing at the edge of a pond. I walked closer to her. She seemed unaware of my presence as I stood merely inches away from her. Suddenly she turned her head, her undiluted eyes bore into me.

"Don't think I don't know you are there," she said.

"Your hair, it's short," I commented sliding my fingers through the roots of her cropped hair.

"You like it," her mouth curled into a smile.

"We all need change once in a while, especially us elves," I answered.

She laughed throwing her head back. I watched her as she took a deep breath.

"You haven't changed much," I said softly into her ear.

"No, not much." She replied placing her hands on my lower arms. She gradually moved them up until they rested on top of my shoulders. I gazed at her face as she held mine in her hands. I leaned forward and captured her lips.

"Welcome to Rivendell, my prince," she breathed against my lips.

Melethril

"Melethril," Elrohir's voice drew my attention to turn around from my sitting position.

"It is time," I stated turning slightly around.

"Yes."

I nodded slightly. "Very well." I stood up and allowed Elrohir to lead me down the hallway.

"Do you have it?" he questioned as we made our way to the outside courtyard where the council would be held. I could hear birds singing and the cascading rush of the waterfall.

"I always have it with me," I replied slipping my hand around my throat. I bushed my fingers over the smooth cold stone. There was a pattern of woven silver intertwining in a circle and in the centre: an emerald stone.

"We are here," he whispered as he led me to sit down behind Elrond on his right quite hidden from the view of everyone. Elrohir took a seat behind me. I heard footsteps come in and walk past me.

"We are here to discuss a matter of importance."

Elrond began to talk about some ancient legend, which I heard before so I listened with half an ear. Then I heard him speak of a name Frodo to step forward and place the ring on the marble pedestal. I heard his footsteps reaching to a stop and the stretch of his fingers as he pulled it out of his front pocket and gently placed it down. A ripple of gasps swept through the audience.

"So it is true, Isildur's Bane," a human voice reached my ears.

"Boromir!" Elrond's voice rang out. This man, Boromir was the son of Denethor, steward of Gondor.

Then in an instant the foul words of Mordor reached my mind. I winced placing my hand to my head. Vaguely in the background I heard Gandalf counteracting the words.

"Never before has any voice dared to utter words of that tongue in Imladris," Elrond said. (AN1)

"I do not ask pardon of you Lord Elrond, for the Enemy wishes that its tongue be heard in every corner of the West. The ring is nothing but evil," Gandalf answered.

"No, this is gift, why not use the ring," Boromir argued. He had sat down and was now up on his feet again.

"You can't weld it, the One ring answers to Sauron alone, it has no other master," Aragorn said.

I had forgotten that Aragorn would be present and I turned my attention on him.

"And what does a mere ranger know?" Boromir snickered.

"This is no mere ranger. This is Aragorn, son of Arathorn," Legolas defended standing up beside him.

"Aragorn, this is Isildur's heir," he replied in shock.

"An heir to the throne of Gondor, you owe him your allegiance,"

"Havo dad, Legolas," Aragorn insisted. There was a moment of silence before Legolas took his seat again.

"Gondor has no king, Gondor needs no King," Boromir spat out and he moved back to his seat.

"Why don't I just destroy it with my axe," a voice that I suspected was a dwarf. I heard a grunt and then something crack.

"No weapon of our make can destroy it Gimli, son of Gloin. The only way to destroy it is to cast it back into where it was made. One of you must take it to the cracks of Mount Doom."

"One does not simply go into Mordor, the Black Gate is guarded by thousands of orcs, not with ten thousand men could you do this," Boromir said.

"Did you not hear what Lord Elrond said, the ring must be destroyed," Legolas shot up from his seat again.

"And I suppose you think you will take, I would rather die than let an elf take it," Gimli boomed out loud jumping up on his feet.

The next few seconds was like being sucked up in a whirlwind. Almost everybody had gotten to their feet and started arguing. The voices pounded against my skull. I touched the side of my face rubbing a spot near my temple.

"I will take it," the hobbit's voice dimmed through the arguing. The arguing stopped and now our attention was on this hobbit.

"I'll take my stone to Mordor… though I do not know the way" Frodo said.

"I shall help you bear some of this burden," Gandalf said sorrowfully.

"By my life or death I shall protect you," Aragorn said standing up. He bent down to touch Frodo's shoulder. "You shall have my sword then."

"And my bow," Legolas announced walking over to them.

"And my axe," Gimli boomed causing me to jump. There was tension between the elf and the dwarf but no words were exchanged.

"The fate rests in your hands little one, but if this is the will of the council then Gondor will see it done," Boromir replied.

A ruffling in the bushes caused me to turn in that direction.

"Mister Frodo isn't going anywhere without me" Sam said proudly.

"No, it seems you are warily to leave Frodo's side even when he was invited to the council and you were not," Elrond said amused.

"We are coming too," Two squeaky voices declared.

"Besides you need people of intelligence to do this mission, quest… thing,"

"Well that rules you out Pippin,"

"Nine companions, you shall be the fellowship of the ring!" Elrond announced.

"Great, where are we going?"

I laughed out loud. Everyone turned their attention on me as I stood up. Elrond decided that it would be best to dismiss the rest of the council leaving Elrond and me with the fellowship.

"You prove a loyal friend, master hobbits. I see why you are so fond of them Gandalf," I answered coming up to stand beside Elrond.

"And what may be these hobbits' name?" I asked. I walked slowly towards them holding out my hand as a sign of good will.

"I'm Merry and this is Pippin," they introduced shaking my hand with great enthusiasm.

"What is your name hobbit?" I asked holding out my hand to the hobbit standing next to them.

"Samwise Gamgee," he answered shyly.

I smiled and switched my glance to the ring-bearer.

"And you must be Frodo Baggins, have you had the chance to see your uncle?" I asked.

"Yes, I saw him yesterday. He has finished his book." He said surprised.

"I know, your uncle and I met on his journey to Mirkwood,"

"He never mentioned an elf maiden in his story,"

"That's because we never met until your uncle resided here, my name is Melethril,"

"Melethril has come to seek your permission to join the fellowship," Elrond stated.

"Absurd! An elf woman," Gimli fumed.

I glared in his direction.

"Elven women are trained to fight Master dwarf. Apologize to the lady," Legolas demanded.

He walked over to stand beside me. I placed my hand on his forearm intending to calm him.

"Yes Gimli, an elf woman who is blind does not help much which is why I need a guide."

I felt the words slip out of my mouth. The fellowship partake Gandalf, Aragorn and Legolas jerked in surprise.

"It is crucial that Melethril accompany you. The elven smith Celebrimbor was suspicious of Sauron's intentions and he decided to create magical stones from the four elements each a part of Middle Earth. However, after the fall of Sauron, the stones were separated in order to ensure that evil would not get their hands on them. Melethril's parents were the carriers of these stones and now they pass on to her," Elrond lectured. (AN2)

"How do we know you don't want the ring for yourself?" Gimli asked. I rolled my eyes inwardly.

"My path is to find the stones not to take the ring," I answered.

"Even that, you are blind, useless without the sight of your eyes,"

I stared forward not knowing if I was looking into his eyes.

"Then I offer the stone willing to you, Gimli son of Gloin, but I fear you will not like the consequences" I answered. Reaching behind my neck I undid the clasp of my stone choker.

"You dare threaten me!" He said outraged. I gripped Legolas' arm tightly permitting him to advance.

"No, if you wish to know the truth then take the stone," I ordered.

I felt him reluctantly reach out his hand to the necklace held in my hand.

I felt power surge through my body as Gimli touched the necklace. The stone was rejecting him. The dwarf was shivering and then into shaking.

The stone was not created for just anyone to weld. My mother was the bearer and her blood and magic flow in me. Do not tempt the forces of nature

I finally let him go from my mind. He jerked forward and fell on the ground again. I loosened my grip on Legolas' arm.

"I think she should come," Frodo stated simply.

"Then it is decided, the ring bearer has made his decision," Gandalf concluded.

Nightfall

The hobbits were good people for company. They kept me entertained for hours, chatting and eating and then more eating. What an appetite they have! Finally I decided it was time to leave and so I quietly slipped out unnoticed. I was strolling through the gardens, which I knew at the back of my hand when I sensed a familiar presence.

"Something is troubling you, what is it?" I asked standing before Legolas.

"I am not quite sure about you coming on this quest," he said turning his eyes on me. I placed my hand on his shoulder.

"Remember when you came here to visit me,"

flashback

I ran as fast as I could.

"Legolas," I called out. People were chatting quietly when I emerged.

"Legolas!" I cried out again.

"I am here, Melethril," he answered coming up to me and taking my hands into his.

"I…" I stammered trying to find the right words.

"What is it, meleth-nin?"

"You still call me that after what has happened?"

"My love has not changed for you, it will never change,"

"Oh Legolas!" I threw my arms around him. He held me while I cried into his tunic. I lifted my head and sniffed a couple of times. I reached out my hand to touch his face.

"I can't go back to Mirkwood, not for a long time anyways. My path is different from yours but I know we will cross paths. Will you let me follow mine?"

"I only wish to see you better, Meleth. That is all I desire,"

"And you will see it done, but now we must go our separate ways. You don't have to wait for me, if you wish you know that…"

My lips were silenced with his pressed against mine. Our lips parted for breath. "Legolas," I cried knowing this was goodbye.

"I'll wait for you forever, for eternity." He placed the necklace that his mother gave him in my hand and then he was gone.

end of flashback

Legolas circled his arms around my waist pulling me against his chest. My head rested comfortably under his chin.

"I fear what you said then will only come true again," he answered solemnly.

"My task is not yet complete, the fellowship is merely acting as my guide, nothing more,"

"We are not just your guide, we are your protection. I will protect you," he insisted.

I raised my head. "I know you will love, but there will come a time when you will have to let me go just like before. Will you be able to do it?"

He said nothing. "Legolas, promise me that you will let me go, you first role is to the ring bearer. Promise me!" I urged staring intently at him.

He sighed. "I promise," I hugged him with all my might knowing this would be our last moment of peace and quiet.

"Kiss me," I said wrapping my arms tightly around his neck. He chuckled.

"I see you are still as demanding as ever."

"Of course."

Author's Note: I have decided that my original character should be called Melethril, which means beloved in Sindarin. The English name for it (got this name from councilofelrond.com) is Frigg who is the Norse goddess of the earth, air and fertility. Well the first two count for her because of the elements but I don't think the third one applies.

AN1 I borrowed this direct quote from the FOTR.

AN2 There will be more history of the making of stones and about Melethril's past

Note how the lines of the characters follow closely to the movie. That is because when I was typing out dialogue, I could only remember the movie ones better.

Havo dad, Legolas- sit down Legolas

meleth-nin- my love

Meleth- love (also notice that Meleth is part of the name Melethril so not only is it an endearment but a nickname)