Chapter 9: Confusion Most Prominent
"Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you."
Rhiannon was cautiously heading further into Lothlorien when a sudden vision came to her. Almost knocking her off her horse. It was dark, a chamber, small skeletons everywhere. All was darkness. There was a..troll? Fighting. She could see all the other members of the fellowship, all in periphery. Yet she did not see Legolas. She was viewing what Legolas himself was seeing. She knew what he was doing. Letting her see what was truly going on. She felt the emotions he could not let out because he had to have a clear head to battle. As many knew, elves didn't enjoy closed spaces at all. They hated any seeming form of limitations except for those that were more powerful. There was respect there, for those older, wiser, and more powerful then them. In Legolas' vision there was an underlying fear. He sensed that there was something more dark wherever they were. She guessed Moria for that is where she had glimpsed the Fellowship last. Rhiannon took many gulps of the fresh air around her; she tried to force the visions down. Not out of her system, but down enough so she would be able to concentrate. There was a sudden weight on her, she could not breathe. The vision came up into her mind, blaring. Fear, unknown and unacknowledged by Legolas before rose up. There was an orange light, flame. Then suddenly the vision changed. No longer through the eyes of Legolas, but through the eyes of a seer. She saw what was around the corner, what the Fellowship now ran from. The demon was made of fear, shadow, flame. Rhiannon tried to control herself, gain control of her mind and powers but knew it was futile. The horse under her sensed the distress and the last thing she heard was a fair elven voice yelling out to her.
****************************
Rhiannon heard soft elven voices speaking around her. Her translations were a little on the rough side, but she understood, 'Messenger of Elrond.' If only that. She opened her eyes slowly, the weight that had been on her was even more intense. Something darker must have happened since she had fallen off her horse. Damned powers, always causing her to miss key events. She was trying to remember all that she had seen. She knew that elves tended to have selective memories. The darkest hours were often remembered, but pushed back. An attempt to dull the ache. She would not prod Legolas' mind for the reason that she felt this sudden weariness. The voices in that beautiful language continued to flow around her rapidly; almost as if they were arguing. Their speech was too rapid for her to translate, she needed the common tongue. The tree elves around here all looked similar. All pale blonde hair and bright eyes. All with bows and quivers. If they had noticed she was awake, they had not acknowledged her.
"My dear elves, if you speak in the common tongue, please tell me what is going on."
One looked at her, he nodded to the other two to sit down.
"It has been long since a member of the people of the Green Isle have come to us. You bear a letter from Elrond, it explains who you are and contains additional information on the Fellowship as it comes to us. Your powers have taken you over it seems, are you not trained?"
Rhiannon shook her head, "There is no one to train me. The powers are not constant. They come and go."
"Even if you dwelled here for many centuries the Lady of the Wood could not even train you in your powers."
"They are not to be contained or constricted. They are a gift and a curse. Higher beings see fit to do their deeds through me. I am a vessel, a servant, I do not attempt to maintain control over something I have no idea of. I am shown what I am shown for a reason."
Haldir stared at her intently, "You speak like a wise one, yet I sense youth around you. My name is Haldir, I am one of the Marchwardens of Lorien."
Rhiannon gave a slight nod, "I am Rhiannon. And to answer your unasked question; I have not even reached a thousand years."
"Nothing but a child, what a mystery."
The comment was not meant to be insulting, therefore Rhiannon did not take offense.
"A friend calls me an enigma."
"Yes, that is more poetic." Haldir softly replied.
One of the elves spoke in that lovely musical tongue. Haldir turned towards him, nodding his understanding, and then turned towards Rhiannon. "The Lord and Lady await. We must go."
****************
Rhiannon gave up trying to take in all the beauty around her. There were not words to describe this place. The tranquility that radiated in Lorien increased as they neared Caras Galadon. They were far from the Royal Talan. Rhiannon had picked the wrong border to enter. The elves left her at a certain area, saying they were needed to defend the borders. Even in a paradise no true peace could exist. The elves claimed she would find her way. The large tree where the talans existed was in the horizon. That was her entryway. She was expected now that she had entered this realm. Fear of her own bubbled up. While being in the company of Mithrandir and Lord Elrond was an honor, no matter how much she complained about them, it was not to be compared to Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. There existed few royals among her own people. Of course there were leaders, all were truly sheep and needed something to follow every now and then. True royalty was not common, for the being, whatever race, had to be of a pure blood. Those were rare in her lands, and not always welcomed. There was pride in her people's diversity. That was a problem she did have with the elves. They were all very much the same, the elves of Rivendell being the exception. Their abilities of course differed, some more talented than others. There rank differed, but they physically looked the same. Rhiannon's brother was in Minas Tirith in Gondor. He would stand out there, but not in their homeland. In their homeland, his golden skin and light green eyes were the envy of many. How she did miss Brhagdan. He would kill her once he found out she was in Gondor. He planned on her to stay with the peoples of Middle Earth that not even the elves knew of. They were full nymphs, but their mischievous ways were not for her. She sometimes felt it needed to remind her brother she was no longer a child. Well, she was, but not really. Oh, confusion. Rhiannon looked up and gasped. She was standing in front of the path that lead to the main talan of Caras Galadon. How she had gotten here, it was a mystery. She turned and looked around, not remembering where she had walked from. Her father always said daydreaming was a needed but dangerous thing.
Rhiannon neared what appeared to be the entrance. Elven guards stood watch, nodding to her as she passed. She wished to speak with them, but she knew that these elves were far removed from the outside world. They would not be familiar with her kind, and if they had been, they would not remember. All seemed to know who she was, and it became aware to her that these elves were gifted in ways in which she had not seen before. She followed a path that seemed to just reach to the sky. She glanced around, a little unsettled. She was in a tree, a palace among branches. This would take some getting used to. Rhiannon glanced ahead as a movement caught her eye; an elf beckoning her forward. She slowly stepped into the, well, room was the best word to describe it. It was not a receiving area but rather a study. Two beings, high elves most certain, sat, light radiating from them. The sheer power that radiated from their persons was enough to send a wave of shock through Rhiannon's suddenly heightened sensibilities. The power was greater then she had even sensed; the wisdom, deeper then she would ever comprehend. She was an infant, if not something younger, to these, the Lord and the Lady. More power was present in the Lady, Lord Elrond had informed Rhiannon of this. She had just never thought to experience it in such a way. She knew they were studying her, trying to figure out what was in her mind. Rhiannon did not know them, trust was not built, she tried her best to block them out and wasted her precious energy in the process. The Lord finally spoke.
"You carry with you a message from Lord Elrond. May we see it?"
Rhiannon demurely lowered her head and reached for the letter she had stashed away. She stepped closer, placing said note on the table in front of the two. The Lady Galadriel grabbed her hand before she could move away. Rhiannon was startled and so her defenses flared up, sending out a message of a threat to any that harmed her. The Lady quickly dropped her hand, as if she had been burned. Rhiannon stammered for an apology, not wanting to offend anyone.
"I-I, apologize, milady. I did not intend for that to happen. You-you startled me. Please do not take offence. I have very little control over my powers an-and when I am frightened, insecure, when I am feeling any emotion quite strongly, they seem to act up."
"Yes, they do and they always shall. You are one that is guided by her emotions, very much like mortal men. Yet you are not mortal, are you?"
"As far as I know I am immortal. I have aged little for years."
"A member of your people passed our way not long ago. You are all mysterious people. He also tried to block me out. Neither of you were successful, a large fight was given though. It is odd to think, if your betrothal had been finalized, we would be related. That was not meant to be, as you must have known from the beginning. You search for safety that can never be found; you have pain that you never acknowledge; you have confusion over what you truly are; all these riddles can not be solved with your new situation. The Prince of Mirkwood is not your answer nor solution."
"Of course he is not. He is a key to the answer though, that is obvious."
"Are you so sure?" The Lady looked at her with an intense gaze.
"No one ever truly knows if something is guaranteed. Smallest actions can have major repercussions. I have confidence in this though, and therefore will stay with my assumption that the Prince of Mirkwood is a key to the solution to whatever my problem may be."
"And what is your problem?" She asked softly.
"There are many, and none I am ready to share."
"Trusting others seems to be a problem."
"Odd that an elf of Lorien should say that." Rhiannon bit her tongue at her insolence. That was not the most intelligent retort in the world.
"I am sorry, it has been a long journey. I am in much need of rest."
Lord Celeborn spoke, "Then you shall rest, and we will discuss this later. The Fellowship is arriving. It would be best if you do not make direct contact with them. Your presence may confuse them and distract Legolas, he has many questions to ask you and now is not the time."
Rhiannon nodded as a sign of understanding and was then, politely, shown the way out. She was aware that her own curiosity must be held back. Although the Lord said not to make direct contact, that did not mean she could not observe. Ahh, yes, she was still a child at heart.
"Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you."
Rhiannon was cautiously heading further into Lothlorien when a sudden vision came to her. Almost knocking her off her horse. It was dark, a chamber, small skeletons everywhere. All was darkness. There was a..troll? Fighting. She could see all the other members of the fellowship, all in periphery. Yet she did not see Legolas. She was viewing what Legolas himself was seeing. She knew what he was doing. Letting her see what was truly going on. She felt the emotions he could not let out because he had to have a clear head to battle. As many knew, elves didn't enjoy closed spaces at all. They hated any seeming form of limitations except for those that were more powerful. There was respect there, for those older, wiser, and more powerful then them. In Legolas' vision there was an underlying fear. He sensed that there was something more dark wherever they were. She guessed Moria for that is where she had glimpsed the Fellowship last. Rhiannon took many gulps of the fresh air around her; she tried to force the visions down. Not out of her system, but down enough so she would be able to concentrate. There was a sudden weight on her, she could not breathe. The vision came up into her mind, blaring. Fear, unknown and unacknowledged by Legolas before rose up. There was an orange light, flame. Then suddenly the vision changed. No longer through the eyes of Legolas, but through the eyes of a seer. She saw what was around the corner, what the Fellowship now ran from. The demon was made of fear, shadow, flame. Rhiannon tried to control herself, gain control of her mind and powers but knew it was futile. The horse under her sensed the distress and the last thing she heard was a fair elven voice yelling out to her.
****************************
Rhiannon heard soft elven voices speaking around her. Her translations were a little on the rough side, but she understood, 'Messenger of Elrond.' If only that. She opened her eyes slowly, the weight that had been on her was even more intense. Something darker must have happened since she had fallen off her horse. Damned powers, always causing her to miss key events. She was trying to remember all that she had seen. She knew that elves tended to have selective memories. The darkest hours were often remembered, but pushed back. An attempt to dull the ache. She would not prod Legolas' mind for the reason that she felt this sudden weariness. The voices in that beautiful language continued to flow around her rapidly; almost as if they were arguing. Their speech was too rapid for her to translate, she needed the common tongue. The tree elves around here all looked similar. All pale blonde hair and bright eyes. All with bows and quivers. If they had noticed she was awake, they had not acknowledged her.
"My dear elves, if you speak in the common tongue, please tell me what is going on."
One looked at her, he nodded to the other two to sit down.
"It has been long since a member of the people of the Green Isle have come to us. You bear a letter from Elrond, it explains who you are and contains additional information on the Fellowship as it comes to us. Your powers have taken you over it seems, are you not trained?"
Rhiannon shook her head, "There is no one to train me. The powers are not constant. They come and go."
"Even if you dwelled here for many centuries the Lady of the Wood could not even train you in your powers."
"They are not to be contained or constricted. They are a gift and a curse. Higher beings see fit to do their deeds through me. I am a vessel, a servant, I do not attempt to maintain control over something I have no idea of. I am shown what I am shown for a reason."
Haldir stared at her intently, "You speak like a wise one, yet I sense youth around you. My name is Haldir, I am one of the Marchwardens of Lorien."
Rhiannon gave a slight nod, "I am Rhiannon. And to answer your unasked question; I have not even reached a thousand years."
"Nothing but a child, what a mystery."
The comment was not meant to be insulting, therefore Rhiannon did not take offense.
"A friend calls me an enigma."
"Yes, that is more poetic." Haldir softly replied.
One of the elves spoke in that lovely musical tongue. Haldir turned towards him, nodding his understanding, and then turned towards Rhiannon. "The Lord and Lady await. We must go."
****************
Rhiannon gave up trying to take in all the beauty around her. There were not words to describe this place. The tranquility that radiated in Lorien increased as they neared Caras Galadon. They were far from the Royal Talan. Rhiannon had picked the wrong border to enter. The elves left her at a certain area, saying they were needed to defend the borders. Even in a paradise no true peace could exist. The elves claimed she would find her way. The large tree where the talans existed was in the horizon. That was her entryway. She was expected now that she had entered this realm. Fear of her own bubbled up. While being in the company of Mithrandir and Lord Elrond was an honor, no matter how much she complained about them, it was not to be compared to Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. There existed few royals among her own people. Of course there were leaders, all were truly sheep and needed something to follow every now and then. True royalty was not common, for the being, whatever race, had to be of a pure blood. Those were rare in her lands, and not always welcomed. There was pride in her people's diversity. That was a problem she did have with the elves. They were all very much the same, the elves of Rivendell being the exception. Their abilities of course differed, some more talented than others. There rank differed, but they physically looked the same. Rhiannon's brother was in Minas Tirith in Gondor. He would stand out there, but not in their homeland. In their homeland, his golden skin and light green eyes were the envy of many. How she did miss Brhagdan. He would kill her once he found out she was in Gondor. He planned on her to stay with the peoples of Middle Earth that not even the elves knew of. They were full nymphs, but their mischievous ways were not for her. She sometimes felt it needed to remind her brother she was no longer a child. Well, she was, but not really. Oh, confusion. Rhiannon looked up and gasped. She was standing in front of the path that lead to the main talan of Caras Galadon. How she had gotten here, it was a mystery. She turned and looked around, not remembering where she had walked from. Her father always said daydreaming was a needed but dangerous thing.
Rhiannon neared what appeared to be the entrance. Elven guards stood watch, nodding to her as she passed. She wished to speak with them, but she knew that these elves were far removed from the outside world. They would not be familiar with her kind, and if they had been, they would not remember. All seemed to know who she was, and it became aware to her that these elves were gifted in ways in which she had not seen before. She followed a path that seemed to just reach to the sky. She glanced around, a little unsettled. She was in a tree, a palace among branches. This would take some getting used to. Rhiannon glanced ahead as a movement caught her eye; an elf beckoning her forward. She slowly stepped into the, well, room was the best word to describe it. It was not a receiving area but rather a study. Two beings, high elves most certain, sat, light radiating from them. The sheer power that radiated from their persons was enough to send a wave of shock through Rhiannon's suddenly heightened sensibilities. The power was greater then she had even sensed; the wisdom, deeper then she would ever comprehend. She was an infant, if not something younger, to these, the Lord and the Lady. More power was present in the Lady, Lord Elrond had informed Rhiannon of this. She had just never thought to experience it in such a way. She knew they were studying her, trying to figure out what was in her mind. Rhiannon did not know them, trust was not built, she tried her best to block them out and wasted her precious energy in the process. The Lord finally spoke.
"You carry with you a message from Lord Elrond. May we see it?"
Rhiannon demurely lowered her head and reached for the letter she had stashed away. She stepped closer, placing said note on the table in front of the two. The Lady Galadriel grabbed her hand before she could move away. Rhiannon was startled and so her defenses flared up, sending out a message of a threat to any that harmed her. The Lady quickly dropped her hand, as if she had been burned. Rhiannon stammered for an apology, not wanting to offend anyone.
"I-I, apologize, milady. I did not intend for that to happen. You-you startled me. Please do not take offence. I have very little control over my powers an-and when I am frightened, insecure, when I am feeling any emotion quite strongly, they seem to act up."
"Yes, they do and they always shall. You are one that is guided by her emotions, very much like mortal men. Yet you are not mortal, are you?"
"As far as I know I am immortal. I have aged little for years."
"A member of your people passed our way not long ago. You are all mysterious people. He also tried to block me out. Neither of you were successful, a large fight was given though. It is odd to think, if your betrothal had been finalized, we would be related. That was not meant to be, as you must have known from the beginning. You search for safety that can never be found; you have pain that you never acknowledge; you have confusion over what you truly are; all these riddles can not be solved with your new situation. The Prince of Mirkwood is not your answer nor solution."
"Of course he is not. He is a key to the answer though, that is obvious."
"Are you so sure?" The Lady looked at her with an intense gaze.
"No one ever truly knows if something is guaranteed. Smallest actions can have major repercussions. I have confidence in this though, and therefore will stay with my assumption that the Prince of Mirkwood is a key to the solution to whatever my problem may be."
"And what is your problem?" She asked softly.
"There are many, and none I am ready to share."
"Trusting others seems to be a problem."
"Odd that an elf of Lorien should say that." Rhiannon bit her tongue at her insolence. That was not the most intelligent retort in the world.
"I am sorry, it has been a long journey. I am in much need of rest."
Lord Celeborn spoke, "Then you shall rest, and we will discuss this later. The Fellowship is arriving. It would be best if you do not make direct contact with them. Your presence may confuse them and distract Legolas, he has many questions to ask you and now is not the time."
Rhiannon nodded as a sign of understanding and was then, politely, shown the way out. She was aware that her own curiosity must be held back. Although the Lord said not to make direct contact, that did not mean she could not observe. Ahh, yes, she was still a child at heart.