A/N: " ''" means it is a direct quote from the books.
Chapter Ten: Visions By Moonlight
"Everything in life is speaking in spite of it's apparent silence."
Rhiannon had made yet another one of her great observations. The elves of Lorien, the Galadhrim, did not know the common tongue. And those that did were few and far between. She had no one to argue with. The elves of this realm had a great respect for nature, they were peaceful and content. Most did not know of the outside world, and while that ignorance protected them from much distress, they were also weakened by not knowing all of the outside world. The Lord and Lady begged her to not go any farther than the river Nimrodel, and even that was quite far away. They seemed to understand her need to be alone. Rhiannon usual chose to blend into the background; here she was stared at for her differences. She was sure the image of her brother must have stayed with these people and therefore they were somewhat curious about her. Rhiannon laid in the cool grass. The warm winter sun shone down on her, warming her from the slight chill in the crisp air. Rhiannon was enjoying this peacefulness. Ever since her last vision from Legolas she had felt an unease. There had been a small vision that had followed after she had left the Lord and Lady, it was just of a mountaintop, then she was suddenly pushed out. It made her feel as if something had gone terribly wrong, and Legolas was not willing to share this with her. At least not yet. She watched, amazed, as dusk began to settle on the land. She reflected on her day. Earlier she had heard a fair elvish voice signing, she did not know the words, and yet it had filled her both with warmth and sadness. Rhiannon knew she should return before darkness finally settled, yet she could not bring herself to move. She stayed there, staring into the sky as it changed, living in a dream-like state. Much like the elvish sleep, but not so. She woke with a start as she was gifted with a full image. Darkness, shadow, flame. Gandalf. Fire, orcs and goblins surrounding many crumbling staircases. There was a demon that stood in front of the powerful Mithrandir. And then..she was slammed out of Legolas' mind again, as swiftly as if someone had slammed a door. The vision did not offer her any comfort. She rose from her place of long resting and searched for a suitable spot to sleep for the night. She would not try to make it back to Caras Galadon until the sun again rose.
************
Rhiannon awoke with the morning. Her back was sore from having slept in such an awkward position. Sadly she was a bit spoilt, and used to sleeping in beds or on soft mats. It was her own fault, she should not have spent all that time staring into the sky last night. She continued on foot until her ears picked up on a sudden noise that caused her to stop in her place. The sudden sound of a heated argument drew her attention. She softly crept on the ground, her bare feet making little noise. She stepped over the ancient tree roots and observed the situation that was taking place. And suddenly bit her bottom lip to stop the laughter that was bubbling up. There stood members of the Fellowship, having just crossed the Celebrant and an argument was ensuing. Haldir insisted he must blind-fold Gimli, being a dwarf and all. Gimli was not very excited about such an act. Legolas claimed "A plague on dwarfs and their stiff-necks!" Rhiannon smirked, if she knew Aragorn they would ALL be traveling blind-folded or none at all. She was right in her assessment as she listened to the conversation
" 'Come!' said Aragorn, 'If I am still to lead this Company, you must do as I bid. It is hard upon the dwarf to be thus signaled out. We will all go blindfold, even Legolas.'
Gimli laughed suddenly, 'A merry troop of fools we shall look! Will Haldir lead us all on a string, like many blind beggars with one dog? But I will be content, if only Legolas here shares my blindness.'"
Rhiannon laughed at the vision Gimli described and the flustered look on the elven Prince's face. She was sure that if she viewed his eyes she would see banked fury. He spoke in a cool tone,
" 'I am an Elf and a kinsman here.'
'Now let us cry: a plague on the stiff necks of elves!' said Aragorn. 'But the company shall fare alike. Come, bind our eyes, Haldir!'"
The look on the face of Legolas was a sight that Rhiannon would not soon forget. My, my. Live over a thousand years and one can still manage to be a spoilt brat prince. Rhiannon was more than content to watch the little scene unfold, but a voice beckoned her. The Lady was speaking,
"Come back, young one. Now is not the time for you to be seen. Let them have peace, and rest these next few nights. Return to us and rest your own mind, that which was so troubled hours ago. You know the way back, let nature and your instincts guide you."
Rhiannon knew the Lady did not speak only of her return path to Caras Galadon. Rhiannon spared one last look at the now blind-folded Company. There were only eight, and she knew that there was quite a mystery and a grief that existed for the missing of Gandalf the Grey; yet none had dwelt in their true grief yet. There would be time for that later, even if the mourning and the grief was not fully needed. Tears are never shed in vain, they can allow for a beginning to occur. And the true journey for most of the Fellowship, had yet to begin. All would be changed forever, but at the end..At the end, eight would stand and one would not, and as of this moment not all were necessarily lost.
A week later, Rhiannon had yet to speak to any members of the Fellowship, as she knew she should not. She had to hide many times to avoid Legolas from viewing her. He spent most of his time with his kindred, but Rhiannon was running out of energy and hiding places. She was wishing for conversation with someone. Nature said many things, yet she could never hold a true conversation with it. She knew of three here that were able to speak the common tongue. One, was Haldir, and he spent his time patrolling the borders. The others were the Lord and the Lady. The two spoke of many things she could never fathom and in riddles she would never be able to comprehend. The temptation to seek out one of the Company was overwhelming, but she knew she could not. She gave a sigh of frustration as she lay cradled between two tree branches. It had taken her quite a long time to climb up here. Rhiannon knew her strength was in her mind, not her body. The ordeal to get up here, with her long dress and cloak had made her not want to climb down anytime soon. All that work and now, as she glanced towards the ground, she realized she must move. That damn elf! Why could he never stay put? Rhiannon held her breath, hoping his perceptive ears would not pick up any light sound she made. He strode towards the base of the tree she laid in. His face was bathed in moonlight and sorrow shone in his eyes. He spoke softly, only for her ears to hear.
"I know you are up there. I have sensed your presence ever since we crossed the border into Lothlorien. I do not know why you refuse to speak to me, and why you have run from me this whole week. What have I done wrong? Is it because I shut you out of my mind? I did not wish for you to find out about the fall of Mithrandir that way." He paused in his speech waiting for an answer. "Rhiannon, please say something."
Rhiannon took a deep breath. "The Lord and Lady bid me not to speak to any of you and I can see their point. The Company must have rest and must also concentrate on what lies ahead. I myself have decisions to make. To be around all of you, to feel your true grief, to feel even just yours, Legolas, that would be too much. I promise you, one day, when this all has come to a rest of some sort, we will have a long talk. Now is not the time, nor will that time be near. Go rest your mind now, be it with elves or with the Company."
Legolas gave a sad smile, "You have a very motherly quality to you."
"So I have been told. Now go rest, and feel no worry tonight." Rhiannon watched as he walked off slowly, glancing backwards towards the tree she rested in. Legolas was like most elves, rarely did he share his emotions with others. This journey would make him more human. And that was not a bad thing.
Chapter Ten: Visions By Moonlight
"Everything in life is speaking in spite of it's apparent silence."
Rhiannon had made yet another one of her great observations. The elves of Lorien, the Galadhrim, did not know the common tongue. And those that did were few and far between. She had no one to argue with. The elves of this realm had a great respect for nature, they were peaceful and content. Most did not know of the outside world, and while that ignorance protected them from much distress, they were also weakened by not knowing all of the outside world. The Lord and Lady begged her to not go any farther than the river Nimrodel, and even that was quite far away. They seemed to understand her need to be alone. Rhiannon usual chose to blend into the background; here she was stared at for her differences. She was sure the image of her brother must have stayed with these people and therefore they were somewhat curious about her. Rhiannon laid in the cool grass. The warm winter sun shone down on her, warming her from the slight chill in the crisp air. Rhiannon was enjoying this peacefulness. Ever since her last vision from Legolas she had felt an unease. There had been a small vision that had followed after she had left the Lord and Lady, it was just of a mountaintop, then she was suddenly pushed out. It made her feel as if something had gone terribly wrong, and Legolas was not willing to share this with her. At least not yet. She watched, amazed, as dusk began to settle on the land. She reflected on her day. Earlier she had heard a fair elvish voice signing, she did not know the words, and yet it had filled her both with warmth and sadness. Rhiannon knew she should return before darkness finally settled, yet she could not bring herself to move. She stayed there, staring into the sky as it changed, living in a dream-like state. Much like the elvish sleep, but not so. She woke with a start as she was gifted with a full image. Darkness, shadow, flame. Gandalf. Fire, orcs and goblins surrounding many crumbling staircases. There was a demon that stood in front of the powerful Mithrandir. And then..she was slammed out of Legolas' mind again, as swiftly as if someone had slammed a door. The vision did not offer her any comfort. She rose from her place of long resting and searched for a suitable spot to sleep for the night. She would not try to make it back to Caras Galadon until the sun again rose.
************
Rhiannon awoke with the morning. Her back was sore from having slept in such an awkward position. Sadly she was a bit spoilt, and used to sleeping in beds or on soft mats. It was her own fault, she should not have spent all that time staring into the sky last night. She continued on foot until her ears picked up on a sudden noise that caused her to stop in her place. The sudden sound of a heated argument drew her attention. She softly crept on the ground, her bare feet making little noise. She stepped over the ancient tree roots and observed the situation that was taking place. And suddenly bit her bottom lip to stop the laughter that was bubbling up. There stood members of the Fellowship, having just crossed the Celebrant and an argument was ensuing. Haldir insisted he must blind-fold Gimli, being a dwarf and all. Gimli was not very excited about such an act. Legolas claimed "A plague on dwarfs and their stiff-necks!" Rhiannon smirked, if she knew Aragorn they would ALL be traveling blind-folded or none at all. She was right in her assessment as she listened to the conversation
" 'Come!' said Aragorn, 'If I am still to lead this Company, you must do as I bid. It is hard upon the dwarf to be thus signaled out. We will all go blindfold, even Legolas.'
Gimli laughed suddenly, 'A merry troop of fools we shall look! Will Haldir lead us all on a string, like many blind beggars with one dog? But I will be content, if only Legolas here shares my blindness.'"
Rhiannon laughed at the vision Gimli described and the flustered look on the elven Prince's face. She was sure that if she viewed his eyes she would see banked fury. He spoke in a cool tone,
" 'I am an Elf and a kinsman here.'
'Now let us cry: a plague on the stiff necks of elves!' said Aragorn. 'But the company shall fare alike. Come, bind our eyes, Haldir!'"
The look on the face of Legolas was a sight that Rhiannon would not soon forget. My, my. Live over a thousand years and one can still manage to be a spoilt brat prince. Rhiannon was more than content to watch the little scene unfold, but a voice beckoned her. The Lady was speaking,
"Come back, young one. Now is not the time for you to be seen. Let them have peace, and rest these next few nights. Return to us and rest your own mind, that which was so troubled hours ago. You know the way back, let nature and your instincts guide you."
Rhiannon knew the Lady did not speak only of her return path to Caras Galadon. Rhiannon spared one last look at the now blind-folded Company. There were only eight, and she knew that there was quite a mystery and a grief that existed for the missing of Gandalf the Grey; yet none had dwelt in their true grief yet. There would be time for that later, even if the mourning and the grief was not fully needed. Tears are never shed in vain, they can allow for a beginning to occur. And the true journey for most of the Fellowship, had yet to begin. All would be changed forever, but at the end..At the end, eight would stand and one would not, and as of this moment not all were necessarily lost.
A week later, Rhiannon had yet to speak to any members of the Fellowship, as she knew she should not. She had to hide many times to avoid Legolas from viewing her. He spent most of his time with his kindred, but Rhiannon was running out of energy and hiding places. She was wishing for conversation with someone. Nature said many things, yet she could never hold a true conversation with it. She knew of three here that were able to speak the common tongue. One, was Haldir, and he spent his time patrolling the borders. The others were the Lord and the Lady. The two spoke of many things she could never fathom and in riddles she would never be able to comprehend. The temptation to seek out one of the Company was overwhelming, but she knew she could not. She gave a sigh of frustration as she lay cradled between two tree branches. It had taken her quite a long time to climb up here. Rhiannon knew her strength was in her mind, not her body. The ordeal to get up here, with her long dress and cloak had made her not want to climb down anytime soon. All that work and now, as she glanced towards the ground, she realized she must move. That damn elf! Why could he never stay put? Rhiannon held her breath, hoping his perceptive ears would not pick up any light sound she made. He strode towards the base of the tree she laid in. His face was bathed in moonlight and sorrow shone in his eyes. He spoke softly, only for her ears to hear.
"I know you are up there. I have sensed your presence ever since we crossed the border into Lothlorien. I do not know why you refuse to speak to me, and why you have run from me this whole week. What have I done wrong? Is it because I shut you out of my mind? I did not wish for you to find out about the fall of Mithrandir that way." He paused in his speech waiting for an answer. "Rhiannon, please say something."
Rhiannon took a deep breath. "The Lord and Lady bid me not to speak to any of you and I can see their point. The Company must have rest and must also concentrate on what lies ahead. I myself have decisions to make. To be around all of you, to feel your true grief, to feel even just yours, Legolas, that would be too much. I promise you, one day, when this all has come to a rest of some sort, we will have a long talk. Now is not the time, nor will that time be near. Go rest your mind now, be it with elves or with the Company."
Legolas gave a sad smile, "You have a very motherly quality to you."
"So I have been told. Now go rest, and feel no worry tonight." Rhiannon watched as he walked off slowly, glancing backwards towards the tree she rested in. Legolas was like most elves, rarely did he share his emotions with others. This journey would make him more human. And that was not a bad thing.