Awakening
Nia awoke suddenly a sheen of sweat upon her brow she passed her hand over her eyes to wipe away the nightmare. So she thought the time has come she looked at her right hand the small band of gold upon her third finger. Nia dressed and slipped out of the tavern in which she was staying it was time and she needed to get to Rivendell in time. She saddled her horse Shadow a noble beast he had been her only companion over the years and he seemed to know that things were changing and snorted "I know old friend but they will need us now it is our destiny to help"
She rode through the night she could sense the others on the roads between here and Rivendell she felt an old feeling of sadness she was with them but she knew there was nothing she could do for her she had tried once and failed. She rode on ever harder they would not stop her they were only after one thing...the ring. She reached Rivendell early in the morning but he was already waiting for her "good morning Gandalf" she said as she dismounted "I knew you would come Nia your destiny is also entwined with that of the ring and I know how long you have awaited this" he moved forward to embrace her "I have worried for you over the years I know of the pain of your sister...if only she had fought back as strongly as you" he moved to stroke Shadows nose "I am glad to see you too old friend to think you would have been used for evil I am amazed that she was able to stand up for herself against Sauron but to turn you as well is incredible" "I was not able to turn my sister though" said Nia from behind him. Gandalf turned to face her once more "you tried though but she was too deep her need for power was greater than your love for her" Gandalf moved closer to her and brushed her hair away from her face his hand traced the thin scar on her face it ran diagonally across her left cheek "you tried and this scar will always be a reminder that you tried your hardest never think that you didn't give it your best. Come now I will let you rest before the council and I will let Elrond know you are here". Nia nodded and followed Gandalf into Rivendell. They were watched from a balcony as they entered Aragorn unable to sleep had heard some of the conversation and was confused who was she and why if she knew Gandalf so well had he never mentioned her before. He reasoned that if she was going to be at the council he would ask her then.
Nia sat on the bed in her room and sighed so it had begun the council tomorrow would probably decide that destroying the ring would be best and for that they would need to travel to Mordor did they really think they would make it but may be there was a chance if the person they chose to carry the ring was strong enough. She lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling she soon drifted off and only awoke when she heard someone outside her door.
She slipped from the bed and was halfway across the room when there was a knock at the door. She opened it to find herself face to face with an elf he looked surprised that she had heard him coming up the hall but quickly regained his composure "I was asked to come and wake you for the council it will start in half hour" "Thank you....er" "Legolas my name is Legolas Greenleaf prince of Mirkwood" and with that he turned and left.
Nia turned back in to her room and washed at the basin that had been set out for her the water was cool not cold as she had expected she cleaned herself and dressed for the council of all the people there only Gandalf and Elrond knew who she really was. Before going to the council she stopped by the stables to check on shadow he seemed pleased to see her snorting when she entered his stall she laid a hand on is neck to quiet him she laid her head against his neck sighed. After so long it had finally come her wait was nearing its end. "You must stay here old friend I cannot risk taking you along u are too big for the paths we take..I will see you again promise" shadow gave a little whinny to answer and nuzzled against her to show that her understood. When she entered the council chamber she noted she was the first except for Gandalf and Elrond. Elrond moved forward to greet her "welcome Nia I had hoped you would show now I know how long you have waited for this. I hope you will help us but I think you should know that the wraiths have been defeated for a short while they have returned to their master for new forms and will be back but for now we have to contend with the orcs and a new threat it seems" he turned to look at Gandalf "Sarumen has turned against us and now seeks the ring himself with an orc army of his own." Nia shook her head our list of allies grows thin she thought she seated herself in a shadowed corner and waited for the rest to show. She watched as they filed in to the room and seated themselves around the plinth in the middle of the room she saw the elf she had spoken with earlier there seemed to be representatives from the elves, dwarfs and humans here.
Legolas scanned the room as he entered he saw the young woman he had spoken with earlier seated in a corner of the room. She seemed to be watching everything her eyes never missing anything he seated himself with the rest of his people and waited for Elrond to speak.
Nia listened as Elrond spoke about the ring and how it needed to be destroyed she saw Frodo place the ring on the plinth and Gimli's futile attempt to destroy it. She watched the hobbit with some interest he may have been small but his eyes betrayed a strength that she had never seen before he may be the one who could do this. She was brought back to the council when Boromir of Gondor spoke of using the ring as a weapon while he was talking she stood and walked to Elrond's side "the ring cannot be used it has but one fate to find it's master it would not help you but it would use you to destroy yourself" Boromir turned on her "what would a mere woman know of the ring" he sneered "I would know more than you know I have seen first hand what a ring like this can do and the need for power is always the cause you desire it's power to help your people but that is all it needs I..." she stopped not sure of what to say next but Gandalf arose and spoke for her. "I am sure you have heard of the wraiths that desire the ring for their master the 9 rings that were given to men great kings and the 2 that were given to the queens sisters that ruled the ancient land of Mirai a land long forgotten and what their rings did to them they are now the ring wraiths that seek the ring" "But you speak of 11 rings altogether Gandalf" said Aragorn "there are only 10 wraiths what of the 11th" Gandalf looked at Nia and she stepped forward again. "I hold the 11th ring" she held up her and for all to see and a gasp arose from the others in the room "my sister and I were given these rings on the promise that they would help us I was unsure but my sister agreed readily to them she desired the power to prove she could be as greater ruler as any man and this was her downfall when Sauron came to claim us I fought back but my sister was not so strong. When she was taken as a wraith I tried to turn her but I failed she left her mark upon my face and I have waited long for the ring to show itself again it must now I would see it destroyed". Aragorn stood "why do you keep your ring if you do not desire its power why not simply discard it." Nia smiled "and let another find it that would use it's power for evil I would not take that chance when the one ring is destroyed then I would see it gone but until then it is my burden to bear" she seated her self again and waited to see what they would do. She was not surprised when they began to argue the influence of the ring was already upon them and she watched with amazement as the small hobbit Frodo stood and took the burden of the ring upon his small shoulders. They were not so keen to accept her help as Gandalf though "you were nearly one a wraith yourself a servant of Sauron you may work for him still I would not trust you, you would betray us" said Boromir. "You fool" said Gandalf "she has fought Sauron and won do you think she would have been allowed in to Rivendell if there was any chance she was allied with Sauron I have known her most of her life and she is as part of this as anyone she will be coming with us". It was settled finally that as well as the four hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin there would also go Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas of the elves and Gimli for the dwarfs there would also be Gandalf and Nia. Before they set out Nia stood with Shadow while she waited for the rest to assemble Boromir and Gimli made it known outwardly that they did not trust her and Aragorn and Legolas did not seem to want to speak with her only the hobbits and Gandalf seemed at ease with her but the others would take Frodo away if he tried to speak with her as if she would suddenly spirit him away to Mordor if they let her. Merry and Pippin tried their best to cheer her with tales and jokes as they left Rivendell but she was saddened by the fact that they would not trust her.
Nia awoke suddenly a sheen of sweat upon her brow she passed her hand over her eyes to wipe away the nightmare. So she thought the time has come she looked at her right hand the small band of gold upon her third finger. Nia dressed and slipped out of the tavern in which she was staying it was time and she needed to get to Rivendell in time. She saddled her horse Shadow a noble beast he had been her only companion over the years and he seemed to know that things were changing and snorted "I know old friend but they will need us now it is our destiny to help"
She rode through the night she could sense the others on the roads between here and Rivendell she felt an old feeling of sadness she was with them but she knew there was nothing she could do for her she had tried once and failed. She rode on ever harder they would not stop her they were only after one thing...the ring. She reached Rivendell early in the morning but he was already waiting for her "good morning Gandalf" she said as she dismounted "I knew you would come Nia your destiny is also entwined with that of the ring and I know how long you have awaited this" he moved forward to embrace her "I have worried for you over the years I know of the pain of your sister...if only she had fought back as strongly as you" he moved to stroke Shadows nose "I am glad to see you too old friend to think you would have been used for evil I am amazed that she was able to stand up for herself against Sauron but to turn you as well is incredible" "I was not able to turn my sister though" said Nia from behind him. Gandalf turned to face her once more "you tried though but she was too deep her need for power was greater than your love for her" Gandalf moved closer to her and brushed her hair away from her face his hand traced the thin scar on her face it ran diagonally across her left cheek "you tried and this scar will always be a reminder that you tried your hardest never think that you didn't give it your best. Come now I will let you rest before the council and I will let Elrond know you are here". Nia nodded and followed Gandalf into Rivendell. They were watched from a balcony as they entered Aragorn unable to sleep had heard some of the conversation and was confused who was she and why if she knew Gandalf so well had he never mentioned her before. He reasoned that if she was going to be at the council he would ask her then.
Nia sat on the bed in her room and sighed so it had begun the council tomorrow would probably decide that destroying the ring would be best and for that they would need to travel to Mordor did they really think they would make it but may be there was a chance if the person they chose to carry the ring was strong enough. She lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling she soon drifted off and only awoke when she heard someone outside her door.
She slipped from the bed and was halfway across the room when there was a knock at the door. She opened it to find herself face to face with an elf he looked surprised that she had heard him coming up the hall but quickly regained his composure "I was asked to come and wake you for the council it will start in half hour" "Thank you....er" "Legolas my name is Legolas Greenleaf prince of Mirkwood" and with that he turned and left.
Nia turned back in to her room and washed at the basin that had been set out for her the water was cool not cold as she had expected she cleaned herself and dressed for the council of all the people there only Gandalf and Elrond knew who she really was. Before going to the council she stopped by the stables to check on shadow he seemed pleased to see her snorting when she entered his stall she laid a hand on is neck to quiet him she laid her head against his neck sighed. After so long it had finally come her wait was nearing its end. "You must stay here old friend I cannot risk taking you along u are too big for the paths we take..I will see you again promise" shadow gave a little whinny to answer and nuzzled against her to show that her understood. When she entered the council chamber she noted she was the first except for Gandalf and Elrond. Elrond moved forward to greet her "welcome Nia I had hoped you would show now I know how long you have waited for this. I hope you will help us but I think you should know that the wraiths have been defeated for a short while they have returned to their master for new forms and will be back but for now we have to contend with the orcs and a new threat it seems" he turned to look at Gandalf "Sarumen has turned against us and now seeks the ring himself with an orc army of his own." Nia shook her head our list of allies grows thin she thought she seated herself in a shadowed corner and waited for the rest to show. She watched as they filed in to the room and seated themselves around the plinth in the middle of the room she saw the elf she had spoken with earlier there seemed to be representatives from the elves, dwarfs and humans here.
Legolas scanned the room as he entered he saw the young woman he had spoken with earlier seated in a corner of the room. She seemed to be watching everything her eyes never missing anything he seated himself with the rest of his people and waited for Elrond to speak.
Nia listened as Elrond spoke about the ring and how it needed to be destroyed she saw Frodo place the ring on the plinth and Gimli's futile attempt to destroy it. She watched the hobbit with some interest he may have been small but his eyes betrayed a strength that she had never seen before he may be the one who could do this. She was brought back to the council when Boromir of Gondor spoke of using the ring as a weapon while he was talking she stood and walked to Elrond's side "the ring cannot be used it has but one fate to find it's master it would not help you but it would use you to destroy yourself" Boromir turned on her "what would a mere woman know of the ring" he sneered "I would know more than you know I have seen first hand what a ring like this can do and the need for power is always the cause you desire it's power to help your people but that is all it needs I..." she stopped not sure of what to say next but Gandalf arose and spoke for her. "I am sure you have heard of the wraiths that desire the ring for their master the 9 rings that were given to men great kings and the 2 that were given to the queens sisters that ruled the ancient land of Mirai a land long forgotten and what their rings did to them they are now the ring wraiths that seek the ring" "But you speak of 11 rings altogether Gandalf" said Aragorn "there are only 10 wraiths what of the 11th" Gandalf looked at Nia and she stepped forward again. "I hold the 11th ring" she held up her and for all to see and a gasp arose from the others in the room "my sister and I were given these rings on the promise that they would help us I was unsure but my sister agreed readily to them she desired the power to prove she could be as greater ruler as any man and this was her downfall when Sauron came to claim us I fought back but my sister was not so strong. When she was taken as a wraith I tried to turn her but I failed she left her mark upon my face and I have waited long for the ring to show itself again it must now I would see it destroyed". Aragorn stood "why do you keep your ring if you do not desire its power why not simply discard it." Nia smiled "and let another find it that would use it's power for evil I would not take that chance when the one ring is destroyed then I would see it gone but until then it is my burden to bear" she seated her self again and waited to see what they would do. She was not surprised when they began to argue the influence of the ring was already upon them and she watched with amazement as the small hobbit Frodo stood and took the burden of the ring upon his small shoulders. They were not so keen to accept her help as Gandalf though "you were nearly one a wraith yourself a servant of Sauron you may work for him still I would not trust you, you would betray us" said Boromir. "You fool" said Gandalf "she has fought Sauron and won do you think she would have been allowed in to Rivendell if there was any chance she was allied with Sauron I have known her most of her life and she is as part of this as anyone she will be coming with us". It was settled finally that as well as the four hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin there would also go Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas of the elves and Gimli for the dwarfs there would also be Gandalf and Nia. Before they set out Nia stood with Shadow while she waited for the rest to assemble Boromir and Gimli made it known outwardly that they did not trust her and Aragorn and Legolas did not seem to want to speak with her only the hobbits and Gandalf seemed at ease with her but the others would take Frodo away if he tried to speak with her as if she would suddenly spirit him away to Mordor if they let her. Merry and Pippin tried their best to cheer her with tales and jokes as they left Rivendell but she was saddened by the fact that they would not trust her.
