Half Elf Princess--Ch 3 Serewen's Decision
I do not own LoTR or SM. This is a challenge from Lady Love.
Serewen had less than a day to make a choice but she was still unsure. She still loved Darien, didn't she? Serewen turned around and walked back into her room.
"I wonder if I should look into Galadriel's mirror," she said quietly. "Perhaps it will help me make up my mind."
She sighed and started to walk out just in time to meet Galadriel.
"Galadriel!" she said in surprise. "I was just about to go look at your mirror…"
"I thought you would," Galadriel said with a slight smile. "So I have come to collect you."
Serewen joined her side. She told her how making the decision was difficult. As they walked down the steps, neither of them seemed to know that Frodo was following them. Serewen looked sadly inside the empty basin as Galadriel went to fill the ewer with water. When Serewen looked up, she saw Frodo walking down the stone steps.
"Frodo!" she exclaimed. "Why aren't you asleep?"
"I couldn't," he said. "I saw you two walking."
Galadriel turned to Frodo. "Will you look into the mirror?"
"What will I see?" Frodo inquired.
"Many things," Serewen answered as Galadriel walked to the basin to pour the water in.
"Things that are, things that were," Galadriel explained as she emptied the water into the basin, "and some things…that have not yet come to pass." Once she had finished pouring the water, she backed away and looked at Frodo in a way Serewen could not understand. Serewen looked at Frodo and stepped aside so he can come and peer into the basin alone.
"Do not be frightened," she said softly.
Frodo glanced at her and he placed his hands on either side of the basin. He looked inside closely. After his reflection he saw Legolas, Sam, Pippin and Merry. He saw the Shire in ruin and the hobbits enslaved. Serewen noticed he was starting to become afraid and the weight of the ring began to pull him inside the basin.
"Frodo!" Serewen gasped.
Frodo grabbed the ring and he fell backward. Serewen caught him before he hit the ground.
"Frodo," she said urgently, "what did you see? What happened?"
"The shire," he whispered, "it's destroyed!"
"NO!" Serewen shouted and she looked up at Galadriel. "Is this happening now or will it happen soon?"
"What Frodo saw is also in my mind," she answered. "It is what will come to pass if he should fail."
"But that won't just happen to his home," said Serewen, "It will happen to all of Middle Earth, won't it?"
Galadriel did not answer her. Instead she looked at Frodo and spoke to him telepathically about the breaking fellowship. Serewen looked confused as they continued to communicate telepathically.
"What are you saying to each other?" she demanded. What was it they could not discuss in front of her? She was then surprised to see Frodo open his palm, revealing the One Ring. She gasped.
"The ring!"
"You offer it to me freely," said Galadriel, impressed. She began walking to Frodo with her arm out stretched. Her voice shook slightly. "I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired this."
"Galadriel, you cannot!" Serewen muttered.
Then suddenly, shockingly, the beauty and fairness of Galadriel seemed to be replaced with something sinister. Serewen screamed and held Frodo close to her.
"In place of a dark lord, you will have a queen!" Galadriel yelled, her voice merged with another's. "Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Treacherous as the sea! Stronger than the foundations of the Earth! All shall love me and despair!"
"No, Galadriel!" Serewen shouted. "You wouldn't!"
Then as suddenly as it came, it went. Galadriel gasped and came back to normal, looking shocked.
"Galadriel?" Serewen asked. "What happened?"
"I pass the test!" Galadriel gasped, a look of relief returning to her face. She turned and closed her eyes. "I will diminish and go into the west and remain Galadriel."
"I cannot do this alone," Frodo whispered.
"You won't be, Frodo," Serewen said softly, looking down at the frightened hobbit.
"You are a ring bearer, Frodo," Galadriel told him. "To bear a Ring of Power is to be alone."
"Galadriel, no," Serewen shook her head. "He cannot go to Mordor all by himself!"
"It is the only way," Galadriel said, holding out her hand to show her ring of power. "This is Nenya, the Ring of Adamant. And I am its keeper. This task was appointed to you. And if you do not find a way, no one will."
Serewen squeezed her hands on Frodo's shoulders. He still looked uneasy. "Then I know what I must do. It's just that…I am afraid to do it."
Galadriel bent down to look into Frodo's eyes. "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future."
"Destroy the ring, Frodo," she said encouragingly. "You will free Middle Earth. But if you don't…the ring will destroy Middle Earth. Beginning with you."
"I know," Frodo whispered.
"But I have faith in you, Frodo Baggins," she said. "You can do this."
Frodo sighed and walked back up the stairs. Serewen looked at Galadriel. "I think I've made my decision now."
"You haven't looked in the mirror for yourself yet," Galadriel said, gesturing to the basin.
"I did not have to," Serewen said, clenching her fists. "It was enough for me after what Frodo saw. I don't care if he is a ring bearer of power. He is a hobbit. He can't do this by himself. He can't! I will join him in this battle."
"How?"
Serewen sighed. She did not want to say it. But she had to. She could not believe it would come to this. "I will marry Legolas," she said, cringing. "But it won't be for love. It will be for justice. I cannot let what happened to the Moon Kingdom happen to the Shire and the rest of Middle Earth! If I do not marry Legolas I will have to go west but I would rather fight Sauron. He is no better than the Negaverse—trying to take over everything!" Serewen ran up the stairs. "I will go and tell my father."
Galadriel remained standing by the basin, smiling slightly. "Well done, Serewen. You have made the right choice."
--
"Father!" Serewen exclaimed as she ran inside. "I've made my choice."
"You have?" he inquired, taking a few steps toward her.
"Yes," Serewen said. "Aragorn's right…I shall marry Legolas and join the Fellowship as soon as I can. I want to help Frodo in his task. Prepare the ceremony for tomorrow at sunset. Earlier if we can make it and the Fellowship is to leave immediately after."
"Serewen," Haldir began.
"I want this over with," Serewen muttered, striding out of the room.
--
"Serewen has made her decision?" Legolas gasped when Haldir came to see him the next morning. Behind him, Pippin and Merry cried out in glee.
"Did you hear that?" Pippin said to the others.
"Last night," said Haldir.
"Why?" Legolas inquired.
"She didn't say," Haldir replied. "You would have to ask her that. She's inside."
Not wasting a moment, Legolas ran passed him toward the palace. "Serewen!" he called. "Where are you?"
"You shouldn't come looking for me before we're married, Legolas," Serewen muttered as she entered the hall.
Haldir has just come to tell me your decision," he said. "What caused you make your decision so quickly?"
"I went with Galadriel to look in the magical mirror," she said. "It shows us things, the past, the present…even the future. I thought it would help me make my decision."
"And you saw that we were married?" he demanded.
"No," she retorted. "Frodo saw us walking and he followed us. He looked in the mirror instead and saw the destruction of the Shire and the breaking of the fellowship. Galadriel said that it shall happen if he fails the task."
"So…what Frodo saw in the mirror is what caused you to make your decision?"
"Yes, and do not fight me, Legolas," Serewen said coolly. "I am not happy about it. I am doing this for justice, not for love. I want to help Frodo in his task any way I can. After we are married and you leave Lorien, I shall prepare myself to join you soon."
"Serewen, there is no need for you to do this!" he exclaimed.
"I have made my choice!" she shouted. "Now do not speak—I am confused enough as it already is!"
Legolas was quiet for a while. Serewen turned around and walked back to her room. "Now go and get ready. The ceremony will be at sunset."
--
The fellowship was quite happy about the wedding, except for Boromir and Legolas. Legolas was angry about Serewen's decision. He still thought that they should hold off until after the quest. The woods and elves of Lorien made Boromir nervous. He did not like the way Celeborn and Galadriel looked at him when they were around. He wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.
Sunset was approaching and it was too late for Serewen to turn back. She stood in silence as Galadriel helped her get ready in a beautiful white gown and arranging flowers around Serewen's golden head. Outside the fellowship and her groom waited for her.
'I hope I'm doing the right thing,' Serewen thought sadly.
"It saddens me your mother could not be here to witness this," said Galadriel as she positioned Serewen in front of a mirror. "But her spirit is with us, Serewen."
Serewen looked absolutely beautiful but she did not feel it on the inside. It was her wedding day and instead of being overjoyed, she was very disappointed. She had to remind herself again and again that she was doing it for Frodo and the well being of Middle Earth. If marrying Legolas would help free Middle Earth and bring peace to the land then she was willing to do it. She tried to remember the love she had for Legolas when she was a child but she was unsure if there was any.
Serewen sighed. "I am ready now."
"Come," said Galadriel and she led her out of the room. Serewen forced to take each step as she followed Galadriel and pushed every memory and thought of Darien and the Moon Kingdom out of her mind.
'Darien is dead. The Moon Kingdom is destroyed. You are marrying Legolas today so you will not lose Middle Earth.'
She came out of the castle and looked at the beautiful surroundings. She always loved how Lorien looked at sunset. The fellowship and the elves stood to one side. As she approached, Merry and Pippin waved at her happily. It was just what Serewen needed to lift her sprits up. She smiled faintly at the hobbits
'Do it for them, Serewen,' she thought, watching Merry and Pippin talking, 'Do it for their home.'
She came closer to the front were Legolas waited. His Elvin garb looked amazing on him and his blond hair waved slightly in the wind. Legolas was a gorgeous elf but he would look better had been wearing a smile. Still, Serewen could not blame him. They were both unhappy about this arrangement and wished it didn't have to happen. When Serewen finally made it to Legolas, they took each other's hands and waited for Celeborn to begin.
'I hope I'm doing the right thing,' both Serewen and Legolas thought.
The ceremony was quiet, except for when Gimli was crying. He seemed rather embarrassed with himself and turned around. Pippin kept leaning next to Merry and asking when they were going to eat. Whenever Boromir caught Celeborn or Galadriel looking at him, he shivered and looked at the ground. Time to time, Aragorn fingered the jewel he received from Arwen. He tried to picture Arwen and himself the place of Serewen and Legolas.
'There is still hope,' he thought. 'There is always hope.'
Serewen tried not to let any of this be a disturbance but she couldn't help but wonder why Boromir acted so nervous. Did he not like the elves? She forced herself to look at her husband to be rather than glancing around. She tried to listen to Celeborn talk. Most of what he was saying was in Elvish. After giving their half-hearted vows, Serewen and Legolas placed the rings on their fingers and waited for Celeborn to continue.
"You may now kiss your bride, Legolas," said Celeborn.
Legolas sighed. Serewen looked at him, wishing to tell him to get it over and done with. Legolas paused for a moment, then he reached his hands to her shoulders and kissed her on the side of the mouth. Neither of them felt a thing and Serewen wished it was Darien she was standing next to instead. As Gimli and the hobbits cheered loudly, Boromir looked nervously around, Aragorn put his arms around the newlyweds.
"Mae carnen!" he said happily. Well done!
"Carnen an gwend," Serewen mumbled. Done for friendship
'What have I done?' Serewen and Legolas both wondered, knowing now that their lives would no longer be the same.
--
The elves brought out food. "Tolo, mado a sogo uin mereth!" called Celeborn, waving the people over. Come, eat and drink of the feast.
Serewen watched the Fellowship eat but was unable to join them. She had lost her appetite, after they had consumed their fill they prepared to leave. Celeborn and the others tried to get Serewen to reconsider and have the fellowship stay another night, but she was adamant that they should leave immediately. The hobbits wished to stay but it was the task of the fellowship to go into Mordor and they could not linger.
"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people," said Celeborn as elves dressed the fellowship in cloaks. "May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes."
Serewen strapped a cloak around Legolas as other elves did the same for the rest of the fellowship. Serewen tried not to make eye contact with him as she fastened the buckle. Legolas didn't look at her or speak either. When she was done, she stepped to Frodo and gave him a smile.
"Frodo," she whispered, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Good luck. You can do it."
Frodo nodded grimly.
She leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "Keep the ring safe. Let no one touch it." She glanced at Borimor and slowly began to realize why Boromir acted so nervous in Galadriel's sight. 'Boromir will try to take the ring…won't he?' she thought, watching Boromir star at the ground. She looked back at Frodo and kept her voice down. "Even one of the fellowship." She straightened up, nodded to him and he nodded back, though he looked nervous and afraid.
"My lady," said Gimli softly. "Before we go—I wonder—if it will be well if I can look at the Silver Crystal?"
Legolas looked at him as if he were about to tell him off. Some of the hobbits seemed wary.
Serewen smiled and approached the dwarf. "I heard many tales of dwarves mining in their caves for gems. I suppose that is how you heard of the Silver Imperium Crystal?"
Gimli nodded. "I always thought it was a story, my lady."
"Why, because you could not find it?" Serewen asked. "Just because you cannot see things, Gimli, does not mean they do not exist. However, I shall show you the crystal as I'm sure it is something every dwarf dreams of. But I ask you not to touch and you may want to shield your eyes…"
The fellowship turned their attention to Serewen as she backed up for them all to see her clearly. She put her hands together, closed her eyes and the silver light began to shine out her fingers. She opened her eyes and pulled her hands apart, showing the crystal. Gimli gazed upon it and his eyes were sparkling. The hobbits were amazed.
"How did she do that?" Pippin wondered aloud.
"The Silver Imperium Crystal," Serewen said proudly. "Is it as you had imagined, Gimli?"
Gimli was silent for a while. "More so, my lady. I thank you."
"Perhaps one day you shall see its power," said Serewen as she closed her palms around it and it disappeared.
Serewen stepped back from the fellowship and stood by her father to watch Galadriel give gifts to the fellowship. She could recognize the look Legolas gave when Galadriel gave him a new bow. Serewen must've made that face when she got her first bow.
"My gift for you, Legolas," said Galadriel, "is a bow of the Galadhrim. Worthy of the skill of our woodland kin." Galadriel gave daggers to Merry and Pippin and Serewen smiled, watching their eyes light up at the daggers. The hobbits knew nothing about battle. She could see a look of bravery in Merry's eyes but a look of uneasiness in Pippins. "These are the daggers of the Noldorin." Galadriel explained as the two hobbits unsheathed the daggers. "They have already seen service in war."
Serewen listened closely to what she said to Pippin.
"Do not fear, young Peregrin Took." Galadriel said to the hobbit. "You will find your courage."
Pippin nodded and glanced up, meeting Serewen's eyes. Serewen nodded back and smiled. Pippin smiled back faintly.
Galadriel moved on to Samwise Gamgee. "And for you, Samwise Gamgee," she said, handing him a gorgeous white rope, "Elven rope made of hithlain."
"Thank you, my lady," said Sam with a bow as he took his gift. He glanced at the daggers Pippin and Merry held and looked at her. "Have you run out of those, nice, shiny daggers?" he asked hopefully.
Serewen giggled, Galadriel smiled and Sam looked a bit embarrassed as Galadriel moved to Gimli. "And what gift would a dwarf ask of the elves?"
"Nothing," answered the dwarf simply. "Except to look upon the lady of the Galadhrim one last time, for she is more fair than all the jewels beneath the earth."
Galadriel laughed and Serewen beamed. She knew the kind of rivalry that existed between elves and dwarves. She was never sure why, especially now that she has met one. They were craftsmen and miners and though they did not have the elegancy of elves, they did have many talents. It seemed so that Gimli was enchanted by the fairness of Galadriel and the elves' territory. Serewen found the little man to be rather humorous.
Gimli groaned and started to turn away to hide his embarrassed face. Then he remembered what he would like to have and turned back again. "Actually, there was one thing," he said to her and quickly muttered to himself. "No, no, I couldn't. Quite impossible. Stupid to ask."
"What is," Galadriel inquired softly, "Gimli, son of Gloin?"
"I-if it w-would not," Gimli stammered, trying to stay calm. "Would not be a problem, my lady—I wish—to have one of your hairs?"
Galadriel paused for a moment. Serewen was taken aback. Out of everything he could've asked the Lady of the Wood, he asked for a hair from her head?
"Stupid," Gimli muttered under his breath, "impossible. Gimli, you've made a fool out of yourself again…"
"Very well," said Galadriel. She reached her hand to her head and combed her hair with her fingers. All watched silently as Galadriel plucked not one hair, but three shiny golden long hairs from her head and placed them in Gimli's hand. Gimli looked down from his gift to Galadriel, beaming. "Thank you, my lady. Thank you."
Galadriel nodded at the dwarf, smiling and moved to Aragorn. She touched the silver pendant around his neck. "I have nothing greater to give than the gift you already bear. Am meleth dîn, i ant e guil Arwen Undómiel pígatha."
(For her love, I fear the grace of Arwen Evenstar will diminish.)
"Arwen?" Serewen whispered. She had met Arwen once in Rivendell. Now she understood why he gave her the suggestion to marry Legolas and join them later. Aragorn and Arewen were in love and he found that their wedding would give him hope and someday they will also be together. She was supposed to flee but she wanted to stay in Rivendell so she can wait for Aragorn.
"Aníron i e broniatha, ad ae periatham athar i methid en-amar hen. Aníron i e círatha na Valannor." Aragorn said. (I would have her leave these shores and be with her people. I would have her take the ship to Valinor.)
"That choice is yet before her." Galadriel told him. "You have your own choice to make, Aragorn. To rise above the height of all your fathers since the days of Elendil, or to fall into darkness with all that is left of your kin. Namárië. Nadath nâ i moe cerich. Dan, ú-'eveditham, Elessar.
(Farewell. There is much you have left to do. We will not meet again, Elessar.)
Finally, Galadriel came to the ring bearer. Frodo looked up at her, trying to look brave.
"Farewell, Frodo Baggins." She said, handing him a crystal phial. "I give you the light of Eärendil, our most beloved star. May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out."
Serewen felt tears sting her eyes as Galadriel kissed Frodo on the forehead. The tears trickled down her cheeks and her heart ached.
As the Fellowship prepared to leave, Serewen approached the four hobbits. She embraced each one and kissed them on the cheek. Pippin moved kind of awkwardly, embarrassed but flattered.
"Farewell, my lady," he said.
"We will be reunited again soon," Serewen said with a smile. "Good luck and please, Pippin, stay out of trouble."
"What?" Pippin gasped.
"You keep an eye on him, Merry," Serewen scolded playfully.
"But he's worse than I am!" said Pippin.
"I am not!" muttered Merry.
Serewen turned to Sam. "You will find a use for the rope someday, Samwise Gamgee. Watch over Frodo…all of you."
"Don't worry, my lady," Sam said proudly. "I won't lose him. I promised Gandalf I wouldn't."
Serewen smiled. "Be careful. You mostly, Frodo Baggins."
Frodo nodded. "I will."
Pippin and Merry crawled into a boat and waited as Celeborn talked with Aragorn. Legolas began tossing supplies in the boat. He took a piece of waybread out of a pack.
"Lembas. Elvish waybread." He said and took a little nibble from a corner. "One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man."
The two hobbits nodded at the elf and Legolas went to collect more supplies. Serewen looked at Merry and Pippin.
"You ate more than that, didn't you?" she inquired with a smile.
"Only four," said Pippin, suppressing a burp.
Serewen laughed. After talking with Celeborn, Aragorn and the rest of the fellowship climbed into the boats.
"Le cenithon ned lû thent!" Serewen called as they began to paddle down the river. Navaer!"
(See you later! Farewell!)
The hobbits waved at her and she waved back. "Farewell, my lady!"
"Goodbye!" she cried, running across the riverbank. She had just made some new friends and already they were taken away from her. "Frodo! Merry! Pippin! Sam! Goodbye, my friends!"
"Goodbye!" Pippin and Merry exclaimed.
Legolas looked up and turned his gaze to Serewen. Serewen stopped running when she caught his eyes and pulled her arm down. She sighed.
"No i Melain na le, Legolas," she whispered.
(May the Valor be with you, Legolas.)
"Navaer, Serewen," he said as he looked away.
"Naveer," said Serewen.
Galadriel approached Serewen and glanced at her. "Serewen?"
"I worry for them, Galadriel," Serewen admitted, watching the fellowship go downstream. "I'm afraid for Frodo. They have already lost Gandalf and Boromir will try to take the ring from him, won't he?"
"Yes," said Galadriel. "He will be all right. The rest will remain true."
"But what…what if the fellowship breaks?" she asked, looking up at her.
"Frodo will have to continue on his own," said Galadriel. "He must believe in himself."
"It was good of you to give gifts to the fellowship before they left," said Serewen. "The light of Eärendil for Frodo—Merry and Pippins daggers—I wish I could have given them something."
"My dear Serewen," said Galadriel with a smile. "You already have."
"I have?" she asked uncertainly. "What did I give them?"
"Hope," Galadriel replied.
Serewen pressed her lips together and looked at the fellowship as they disappeared out of sight. Perhaps she did give them hope, but will they remain hopeful until the end?
To Be ContinuedSo sorry for the late update! This story's kinda hard to write.