Disclaimer: the ONLY thing I own is Delwyn (Vanyalosse), Tatianna and anything not found in any of the works of the great Professor Tolkien. All places, people, things and events found in his works are his and his only, and I make no profit by using them herein. I've used a blend of story and movie elements, you have been warned.
Chapter 2 - Meeting with Elrond
"How can someone fall through a mirror?" Tatianna asked.
"Anything is possible if one's magic is strong enough," Vanyalosse replied, beckoning her over. "There were two powers at work in the world. One is kept in here."
Tatianna got up and walked over to the case, a gasp escaping her lips. "The Rings of Power!"
"Yes," Vanyalosse nodded. "All twenty of them. The Seven were the last to come together, with four being lost. Many years were spent searching for them, as it was feared what might happen if they were found by others. They have all been housed here for safekeeping. The Lady Galadriel saw the coming of Delwyn, and though she was unable to prevent it, she was able to ensure that when she did cross, it was in a safe place. A great risk it was, being a bearer of the Three, but had she not the outcome may have been dire indeed. Though not even she could see where it would bring Delwyn to."
Tatianna frowned. "But there is only nineteen. You said there were twenty."
Vanyalosse smiled, and indicated for her to sit back down so that she could continue the tale…
Delwyn landed hard on the smooth floor, the sound echoing through the large hall in which she found herself. The mirror before her was three times the size of the one that had been in her room, yet though its size awed her, she didn't want to be here. She had no idea where she was, or what the people here were like, but she didn't want to find out. Hastily she stood up and put her hand to the glass; it was solid, hard, cold. There was no way back. Panic set in her face as she continued to paw at the mirror, hoping that by some miracle she could find some way back. It was no use, and she didn't know what to do now. Tears sprang to her eyes.
"My lady? Are you well?" a voice to her right asked. She turned to see a tall man, or what she took to be a man, blond and dressed in robes of sapphire and silver grey. His face was calm, patient, and she felt nothing but kindness in his presence. Her hand dropped to her side.
"I…I don't know," she began, gazing back into the mirror and seeing her own reflection. "I don't know where I am."
"You are in the House of Elrond, the First and Last Homely House," he provided, taking a couple of steps forward. "Mortal men know it by the name of Rivendell; we call it Imladris." He gazed sympathetically at her, sensing her troubled mind. "Do you know how you came to be here?"
She shook her head, feeling a little stupid that she didn't have the answer. The tall man smiled and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"What is your name, my lady?"
"Delwyn. Delwyn Warwick."
He smiled. "I am Glorfindel, and it is my pleasure to make your acquaintance." He held out his arm to her. "Come, I shall take you to the Lord of this house. I am sure he will be able to aid you, whatever your situation."
She warily took his arm, amazed by the kindness this person was showing her. A small part of her was still apprehensive that this was all too good to be true, that she was being too trusting and she was about to find herself in inescapable trouble. Yet as she walked through the halls with Glorfindel, she began to find the possibility of anyone being mean or cruel here impossible. This, Imladris as it was called by its own people, was too beautiful, too peaceful. Others they passed in the halls nodded courteously to them, and Glorfindel nodded back with the same courtesy. When they saw her, an amazed look graced their fair faces. Whether this was good or not, Delwyn didn't know, but their smiles never faded, so she tried to be optimistic.
They came at last to a wide-open room filled with furniture whose like she had never seen before. Two figures stood in the room; one, an old man dressed in rugged robes standing at a window, and another standing further away near a table, younger he seemed and yet not so, and he looked in the old man's direction. Little did she know that this was Lord Elrond and Gandalf the Grey, watching from Elrond's study as expected company began to arrive. The first to arrive was Boromir, son of the Stewart of Gondor, riding one of the great steeds of the Rohirrim. The wonder on his face could not be missed. Not long after his arrival the delegation from Mirkwood rode into the courtyard, the son of King Thranduil at their head. No wonder such as Boromir's was in his eyes but a sense of familiarity; as if he had come home and was glad that he had done so. Last, since they had so far to come and only on foot, the dwarven delegation led by the dwarf Gloin, who despite his dislike for Elven kind had visited the haven twice before and felt it only proper that he lead the delegation to this place. Along with the councilors he brought with him, Gloin also brought his son Gimli. Though he had no love for the elves because of the imprisonment his father suffered at the hands of the Mirkwood king, he seemed mildly impressed by the House of Elrond. Only mildly.
"This peril belongs to all Middle Earth. They must decide now how to end it," Elrond said, walking towards Gandalf at the window. "The time of the Elves is over - my people are leaving these shores. Who will you look to once we've gone? The Dwarves? They hide away in their mountains seeking lost riches - they care nothing for the troubles of others."
Gandalf paused, and turned to his friend. "It is in men that we must place our hope."
Men. A weak race. He told Gandalf as much, that it was because of men that the Ring lives. Memories flooded his mind as Elrond thought back to that fateful day, the day he witnessed men's strength fall. He let his mind go back 3000 years to the Last Alliance of Men and Elves, when Islidur had cut the Ring. In a half-daze, he allowed himself to be led right into the heart of Mount Doom by Elrond, only to give into the temptation and keep the Ring. From that day on Elrond never truly forgave the race of Men, aiding the Northern men only because of their Numenorian heritage and ties to his now deceased brother Elros. Gandalf tried to reassure Elrond by pointing out that there was one man who could unite his broken race and bring strength and honour to Gondor once again. Elrond knew of whom he spoke of, but Aragorn had chosen exile.
It was then that Glorfindel cleared his throat, calling attention to himself and the person with him. Both looked over to the noise and saw the elf-lord standing with a woman who eerily resembled the daughter of Elrond, Arwen Undomiel. Both had the same build, same skin and length of hair, though where Arwen's eyes were blue this lady's were more of a blue-green. There was a dark mark on the right side of her forehead, concealed mostly by her hair, but noticed by the eyes of an elf. Gandalf looked to Elrond, who gazed at the woman before him in utter amazement, then shook his head to regain his composure and the moment passed. Galadriel had sent word to him not long ago to expect the arrival of a strange woman, one she named as kin, and he had his sons and members of his house patrol the woods to keep an eye for her. He was encouraged to be prepared for her at a moment's notice, and he had done everything to ensure that he was. But nothing had prepared him for the actual encounter.
"My lord, this is the Lady Delwyn. I came upon her in the halls on the other side of the manor. She has no conception of how she came to be here, so I have brought her to you for counsel," Glorfindel explained, introducing the lady with him.
"I have been expecting the lady for some time. I thank you Glorfindel for bringing her to me," Elrond answered. The elf-lord gave a nod, released his arm from hers and took his leave. Gandalf looked at him questionably regarding this new visitor, but Elrond merely raised a hand in reassurance then turned to the woman.
"Your arrival has been known to me, though the place of it was not. I thank the Valar that you arrived here. Welcome to Rivendell."
"How could you be expecting me? How did I get here? Why am I here?" the woman asked in rapid succession. It was evident to the both of them that that this whole event had left her a bit shaken up.
"I am afraid what I know may not completely answer your questions," Elrond replied, indicating for her to sit. She shyly walked over to the chair he stood behind and seated herself as Gandalf came to join them. Once seated, she watched Elrond walk around the table she now sat at.
"I was able to expect your arrival because I was informed of it by another who discovered your coming," he explained. "The Lady Galadriel, of the Golden Wood. I am sure her name may mean little to you now, but she bears gifts that allow her to see things not known to others. She is the reason you were guided to a safe place, though we had not anticipated you would land right in the middle of my home. But it was fortunate that you had; it was dark forces that brought you here, and without intervention you might have found yourself in less pleasant company. You are safe here."
"But, I still don't understand how I got here, and why?" Delwyn replied, confusion and desperation in her voice.
"Some answers take time in revealing themselves to us, " Gandalf offered, trying to sound reassuring. "You just have to trust that they will come when you need them."
Delwyn dropped her eyes. She knew they meant well, and she was grateful for their kindness, but it all comforted her little. Gandalf and Elrond both glanced at each other a moment before gazing back to her, compassion in their eyes.
"Come, let us get you settled in a room," Elrond offered. "I am certain you are going to be here for quite some time."
Delwyn wandered the paths in the gardens as nightfall fell, wearing a borrowed dress from Arwen who she had met at dinner. A place was prepared for her near Elrond at his table in the dining hall, but she felt out of place and did not stay for the songs that came after the meal in the Hall of Fire. Everyone was kind and courteous to her, but many had questions she wasn't comfortable asking and she never did feel comfortable in such large crowds. Yet she hadn't been the only one; there were many who took to the gardens or other parts of the manor. Everywhere she walked she could hear soft voices singing strange words, but she never came across a soul. Yet it enticed her to stay in the gardens, which she did until the moon had traveled halfway through the night sky. Her eyelids began to feel heavy and she hoped she could keep awake long enough to find her room.
She found an entrance to the manor from the part of the gardens she was in, and thankfully it was a part she had seen before. She could navigate herself without worry of getting lost or relying on someone to help her. Even in the moonlight, the beauty of the halls was still radiant, and it helped to keep her eyes open. She was moving at a rather steady pace until she came to a grand, intricately carved arch overlooking the most glorious sight she'd ever seen. A deep valley lay before her filled with large, proud trees. Waterfalls were in the distance, their mists catching in the moonlight giving them an ethereal glow. Entranced, Delwyn approached right to the edge. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
"I see you have found the most grand view of the valley in which we live," a voice commented from behind. She turned and looked over her shoulder to see Elrond, dressed in dark burgundy robes. His raven dark hair hung long and unbound, nearly as long as hers. He stepped up beside her as she turned back to the sight before her.
"I had never seen anything so beautiful," she replied in an almost dream-like voice. "I didn't know anything could be this beautiful."
"A lady I once knew said the same thing the first time she stood here," Elrond said, looking out. "She came to love this view. We stood many nights here together."
A long moment of silence passed between them. Delwyn dared a glance up at Elrond and found a soft, almost sorrowful look in his face. He didn't meet her gaze.
"You look so much like your mother," he replied quietly. His statement shocked her; she had no conception of how he might know her mother, especially since she had not even known her own mother very long. But she had not the courage or heart to ask him what he meant. Another quiet moment passed.
"You should get some rest, Delwyn," he advised, his voice more steady. "There will be much to discuss in the days to come, and you will need your strength."
She nodded. "I will. Thank you, for everything."
Elrond nodded, but said or did nothing more. Delwyn turned and headed back down the hall, the azure blue dress whispering against the floor as she went.
