Disclaimer: the ONLY thing I own is Delwyn (Vanyalosse), Tatianna and anything not found in any of the works of the great Professor Tolkien or the script by Peter, Fran and Phillipa. 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 3 - Council

Delwyn awoke the next morning to the bright rays of the sun and birdsong wafting through the arches. She had a dreamless sleep, but comfortable. It was comforting knowing that no one would wake her in the middle of the night in a drunken rage. Smiling genuinely for the first time in too long, she sat up on the large sleigh bed, careful so as not to accidentally push any of the pillows to the floor, and gazed out over the waking world. The simple white gown that she wore, which had been laid out on her bed when she reached her room, swept off of the bed after her puddling at her feet. A soft breeze greeted her, and she inhaled the scent deeply. She was unaware of a presence behind.

"Good morning, Delwyn," a deep yet distinctly feminine voice said. Delwyn turned to see Arwen standing in her doorway, smiling warmly and bearing a platter of various fruits, cheeses and breads. She walked into the room and set the platter on the table, waiting for Delwyn to join her. Delwyn suddenly felt very plain next to this lady as she approached the table. Here she was in a plain white gown, and there Arwen stood, draped in a belted overdress of luscious rose and an under dress of soft pink patterned with white vines and flowers. They both sat in unison when Delwyn reached the table, and she began picking tentatively at the food before her.

"My father wanted to allow you to waken at your own time," Arwen explained. "If you were not awake in time for the morning meal, then you were to be left alone until you had awakened. He would have breakfasted with you, but he is preparing for council today."

"Council?" Delwyn asked, swallowing a piece of melon.

Arwen nodded. "The One Ring of Sauron has emerged from hiding, and the people of Middle Earth are now going to decide its fate. It threatens us all."

Delwyn nodded, looking away a moment. "Do you think it might have something to do with why I was brought to this world?"

"My father does," Arwen answered. "Though he will not say it. He fears you may have to leave with this thing." Delwyn's head shot up, her eyes wide at the mention of possibly leaving this place she found herself in. Yet Arwen smiled, and reached over to grasp her hand reassuringly. "But that is only my own speculation. Only time will tell what is to be done."

Delwyn tried a smile, but felt no more reassured. They sat in silence as she finished her breakfast, and when she was done Arwen stood up.

"The council will be meeting soon. Come with me to my chambers, and we shall find you something suitable to wear for the day."

She nodded and followed her out of the room. Servants moved quickly through the halls, obviously fulfilling preparations, but they gave quick nods of acknowledgement when they passed the daughter of Elrond and the guest of Elrond. Arwen's chambers were on the other side of the manor from Delwyn's, but it was a pleasant walk to Delwyn. Because they were of similar height and build, it was fairly easy for Delwyn to find something to borrow. She chose a single gown of a cranberry velvet with great sleeves that reached her ankles, which she put on after she returned to her own room to bathe. She opted to leave her hair unbound, mostly so as to hide the large bruise on the side of her forehead, but she also hadn't thought of anything she could do with it. People here wore their hair with ropes of intricate braids, and the best she was ever able to do with her long tresses was a ponytail or a plain braid. She wanted to avoid doing anything that would make her stand out more than she already did.

A bell chimed while Delwyn was brushing out her hair. She didn't get a chance to even wonder what it meant, as Arwen came to her doorway once again.

"They are gathering for the Council," she replied.

Delwyn got up and followed her through the doorway and down the halls. All was now still in the halls, and the two ladies went unseen and unnoticed. Arwen had now wrapped a cloak of the same material of her overdress around her shoulders, which billowed out behind her and made it difficult for Delwyn to try and avoid stepping on it. Noticing this, Arwen slowed her pace so that Delwyn could catch up, allowing them to walk side by side the rest of the way. They entered parts of the house she had never seen before, and though she would have loved to take time and really gaze at her surroundings, she could tell Arwen was eager to reach their destination.


Delwyn stood in the shadows in the library with Arwen, right next to the statue bearing the shards of Narsil. They had arrived just in time to see the last few people take their seats. She was amazed at the difference in each of the different peoples, how obvious the dwarves were from hobbits, and the difference in physical appearance between men and elves. Elrond sat at the base of a tree standing in the courtyard at the head of the circle, an advisor on either side of him. He watched solemnly as the last of his guests arrived from either side of his two advisors to take their places. A pedestal sat in the middle of the courtyard which each chair, with the exception of the three chairs Elrond and his advisors occupied, was seated around at equal distance from. Once everyone was settled, Elrond began, and both ladies remained still as he stood up to address the Council, being careful so as not to make their presence known.

"Arwen watched the Council?" Tatianna asked.

"Yes, she most certainly did," Vanyalosse replied. "She, like her father, sensed the connection that Delwyn had to her family, and also to the evil that was spreading in the world. Also, knowledge is a great tool, and it would have been beneficial for her to know as much as possible about the situation." She smiled. "And seeing Aragorn may have factored into it as well."

"Where they seen?"

"No," Vanyalosse answered, looking away. "At least not at first…."

As Elrond spoke Delwyn looked over the Council, recognizing certain faces that had been introduced to her the night previous. Glorfindel, who had been the first to greet her in this wondrous place and whom she learned to be a great lord of his kind. Gandalf, the kindly wizard she had met with Elrond. Frodo Baggins, the young hobbit whose burden it had been to bring the One Ring to Imladris. Aragorn, the Ranger with a kingly heritage that she knew little of and had a relationship with her new friend that she envied so much. Gimli the dwarf, who had attended with his father Gloin and never seemed to tire of speaking of his father's deeds or his own. Boromir of Gondor who had come in the stead of his father to take part in the Council on behalf of Gondor, and Legolas, who had come as a messenger from his father the king of Mirkwood. These two Delwyn could not look away from for long ever since she had first seen them. Both were stout, honourable and stirred in her something she could not explain. She was afraid it of, almost ashamed of it, but did nothing to try and push whatever it was away. Perhaps a talk with Arwen, or even Elrond, later might help to clarify it for her. But for now she was content to watch these two who enticed her as both she and Arwen watched the Council unfold.

They spoke for hours, none bringing any good news from the places in which they dwelt. All were weary, and none were close to an answer to the fate of the Ring. Delwyn shivered every time her thought went to it, remembering the moment when Gandalf stood and spoke the words that made the sky darken and all who heard them shrink back in despair and fear. Yet though she witnessed Gandalf speaking it was another, crueler voice that spoke them, and that voice (as well as the words) was strangely familiar to her. Much too familiar for her comfort, and she was nearly tempted to turn away from the Council but she feared making noise and thus alerting someone to where they stood. So she stayed where she was, praying that they would finish soon.

The end finally came from out of an ensuing argument that broke out amongst those gathered. Frodo stood up and shouted out that he would take the Ring to be destroyed. The yelling died down as each member heard the small voice announce that he would do what no one else had offered to do; travel to Mordor to destroy the Ring. Delwyn did not miss the expression on Gandalf's face; he had clearly not wanted his little friend to have anything more to do with that accused object. Sadly Fate obviously had other plans. Elrond gazed hard at the little hobbit.

"If I understand aright all that I have heard, I think that this task is appointed for you, Frodo; and that if you do not find a way, no one will. This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great. Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it? Or, if they are wise, why should they expect to know it, until the hour has struck?" A pause, and Elrond continued. "But it is a heavy burden. So heavy that none could lay it on another. I do not lay it on you. But if you take it freely, I will say that your choice is right; and though all the mighty elf-friends of old, Hador, and Hurin, and Turin, and Beren himself were assembled together, your seat should be among them."

"But though the Wise could not have foreseen this, will they abandon this Halfling in his time of need?" Gandalf asked, standing to the Council. He looked down to Frodo. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, so long as it is your burden to bear."

A soft murmur rippled out over the Council at Gandalf's declaration. Elrond gave him a look as if to question him, but Gandalf was sure and steadfast; he would go with Frodo.

Sam burst out from the bushes behind Frodo's chair, where he had been sitting during the entire time, and came to stand beside his master.

"Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me!"

Elrond looked exasperated, but managed a smile. "No indeed it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not."

Sam looked down, slightly embarrassed by his outburst, but Elrond announced that nothing would be decided right away. Delwyn could not help a giggle at the sweet hobbit's antics and was caught by Elrond, who seemed shocked to see her there. She looked to Arwen only to discover she had already turned and gone down towards the corridors and she did not hesitate to follow. She guessed (and quite rightly) that Elrond had planned to keep her from everything until a time when he felt that she would be ready to hear it, but something about the reason why Arwen brought her here and her own feelings told her that there was no such time. She would never be ready to hear such evil, but she had to, and the sooner she did, the more likely the quest of the One Ring might succeed.