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Chapter Three: Council and Discovery

Gandalf

I was finally to Rivendell. In my company was Aragorn and Legolas. I insisted Legolas fallow us to see Elrond for he was acting strangely. I had spent sometime pondering Elena and I had much news to tell. However I would only tell it once. The sight before me startled me a little. In all my years I had never seen so many exhausted elves.

"What ails you all?" Aragorn asked dismounting from his horse. The rest of us dismounted as well and approached. As if on cue we were provided with a demonstration. From a balcony there was a flash of fire that shot through the air and landed on a tree in the distance. The tree caught fire and Aragorn and Legolas went to move to it but Elrond stopped them. Two more trees caught fire and Aragorn was looking to Elrond as if he had lost his mind. Then from the balcony came a spray of water that extinguished all of the flames.

"Need I explain." Elrond then said dryly to Aragorn. The look of confusion passed between Legolas and Aragorn was almost priceless. "Mithrandir I truly hope you have good council for I am in need of it." Elrond then said to me.

"Indeed my friend I do, come, you as well Glorfindel, Aragorn." I said. We all went to Elrond's study. I left Legolas to relax for he needed no more problems at the moment. He looked as if he was ready to leave Rivendell at the slightest problem anyway. Though I knew he would not. He needed rest.

Once everyone was seated I began. "It was wise to teach her to expel the energy Elrond though it may only be a temporary solution."

"I did not have a choice, it was either that or have the energy drained from every elf in Imladris. Not even I can bare to help her." Elrond said I nodded. Aragorn was sitting patiently waiting for it all to be explained.

"This is what I know. Elena was chosen by the Valar to bear two children. One will be able to control fire, the other water. This may only be done when they are together though. Separate them and they will be as any other child. The children were placed within her by Manwe and Varda themselves. They will chose a father figure when the time comes, probably among the firstborn since they are to remain among them. Not all is clear to me of the children's purpose. I do know they must learn all they can from the first-born before they all depart these shores. It is linked to what they must do in the time Elena comes from." I told them.

Elrond looked to me, "Then the children are immortal?" he asked. Aragorn was beginning to understand and remained quite.

"Yes as well Elena after they are born. Her purpose is even more vague than the obvious. What her destiny holds I know naught."

"She must be told now Elrond we have no other choice." Glorfindel said from the window.

"Yes she must but she must be told slowly and a little at a time, do not overwhelm her." I said Elrond nodded.

"Glorfindel bring her here." Elrond said and Glorfindel left. "She has much grief within her Mithrandir, what is it?" he then asked me.

"She faced many trials in her previous life. The grief shall pass with time." I reassured them. Either the grief would pass or she would be so caught up in events she will forget. Glorfindel returned with Elena.

"Elena I am sure you remember Mithrandir." Elrond stated. She smiled at me and Elrond continued, "This is my foster son Aragorn." Elrond indicated. Elena was graceful in her greetings and took a seat. "Mithrandir has information for you." Elrond said turning the discussion over to me.

"Elena do you know who the Valar are?" I asked her, her eyes widened a little and she nodded. "They are the ones who wanted you here. I do not know the full purpose though. You have been chosen by them to bear two children." I told her. She frowned and tears started to mist her eyes.

"Forgive me, but there must be some mistake, I can not have children." She said in a little shaky voice.

"Elena you bear them as we speak." Elrond said. She looked in shock towards him.

"Elena he speaks the truth. That is why you are experiencing the things you are. One of them can control fire the other water. They are twin girls and should be born in the early spring." I told her. The tears where now falling from her face. "Think Elena what you felt the last time you saw me." I told her. She stared blankly at me.

"You lie! It is not possible! None of this is! This is all a nightmare! Do not place false hope in me! You lie!" She started ranting. She stood up and moved for the door. Aragorn moved to stop her. I thought it best she go so nodded to him to let her pass.

"Well that could have went better." Glorfindel remarked.

"Mithrandir is it wise to leave her be in this state?" Elrond asked

"She will need time to get her thoughts in order. Let her have that. We will leave her be until the marrow. She is strong. Fear not." I told them, I knew she would see the truth. It would just take time.

Elena

I ran from Elrond's study furious. How could they tell me such things. I wanted so much to believe them. I couldn't. It was not possible. Why would beings that had taken my ability to have children away in the first place. Then just give me children all of the sudden. It was not possible and didn't make sense anyway.

Once I was in my chambers I locked the door. I did not want to be disturbed. I did not even want to be here. It was beautiful and I felt better here than I had in years. That was quickly changing though. These wired talents where wearing me out. I wanted them explained but the explanation I received was not the one I was expecting. It didn't make me feel better only worse.

How could they lie to me? Though I thought they probably were not lying and just telling me what they thought. They were wrong. I couldn't have children. I no longer had the parts to bear them and twins at that. I would love to have twins. But I wasn't able. Maybe they thought I was someone else.

I brooded in my room the rest of the day thinking everything over and over trying to come up with some explanation for it all. I skipped all the meals. I wasn't hungry. I heard a knock a couple of times. It was probably Glorfindel bringing me food, but I ignored him.

It was well into the night and everything was quite. I finally decided on the thought that they thought I was someone else and left a note saying as much. I changed my clothes and gathered my cloak and a small dagger Glorfindel gave me. I carefully and slowly opened my door to see some food on a tray outside it. I collected the food and placed it in a bag.

I stepped out on the balcony. I looked all around and seen no one. I slowly climbed down the trellis. Once I was on the ground I surveyed everything again. There seemed to be no one around. I walked as quietly as I could out into the forest. Once I was well away from where anyone would be I steeled myself and started traveling faster.

I had no idea where I was going other that away from everyone I knew. I was traveling east. I walked all night long. I never stopped. I was so lost in my thoughts. I barely noticed when the sun rose in front of me. I kept walking.

Finally exhaustion took me. I found shelter under a small crop of trees. I laid down and closed my eyes. I could not have been asleep long when I heard rustling in the bushes not far from where I was hiding. I opened my eyes and looked to where the noise came from. I gasped. There was the most hideous creature I had ever seen.

It was crouched down looking at something. I could smell the creature and it made my stomach turn. It was gray skinned and looked like a horribly deformed human. Suddenly it turned around still looking at the ground. It was now facing me and then it occurred to me what it was. An orc. I grabbed my dagger more for comfort than the thought of using it and laid still.

Terror was running through my veins as the creature approached me. I suddenly felt the familiar warmth through my veins. My terror mounted, I could not expel it. The orc would surely see me then. But if I withheld it I would faint, what then would happen. I tried to concentrate, my only choice was to expel it on this creature.

I opened my eyes and cast the energy away. The creature burst into flames. I tried to turn the next release away from the creature but it was to late. As soon as the creature caught fire, the water came and extinguished it. It only made the creature scream out in pain. Then came four more of them.

I turned and began to run away from them. I was fueled by my terror and fear. I ran as fast as I could. I didn't look back. Suddenly in front of me were two more orcs. I stopped dead in my tracks. I could here the others coming up from behind me. I was being surrounded. I was shaking all over and tried to scream but voice wouldn't work. Everything started spinning. I felt one of the creatures grab me by the hair.

Word were spoken. I couldn't understand any of them. I was thrown over the shoulder of the one that was holding my hair. I felt the tears running down my face. I began to struggle. The orc did not expect it I guessed because he lost his grip on me and I hit the ground. I scrambled to get up. There was a sudden pain in my side after one of them kicked me in the ribs.

I was picked up again. I wanted to struggle and get away but I was in so much pain. I remembered my dagger then and plunged it into the orcs shoulder. The feeling of cutting flesh made me shudder. It was then I was hit on the head. Everything went black and my body went limp.

When I came around it was nightfall. I was still hung over the shoulder of one of the orcs but it was not the one I injured earlier. I peered into the dark trying to see where I was. We were not in the forest that much was certain. I could tell we were reaching the mountains for their shadow was in the distance. The moon revealed little but enough for me to see that there where eight orcs around me.

The pain in my ribs was much worse then it had been earlier. My head was still throbbing. I was wondering why they had not killed me yet. I was almost wishing they would. Almost but not quiet I could think of better ways I wanted to die. The company stopped. I assumed to set up camp for the night.

I began to feel that familiar feeling again. There was no way I would be able to use it against these creatures all at the same time and still survive. Maybe I could use it as a signal. That sounded like a decent enough idea, though it might cost me my life I had to get rid of it. I began to concentrate harder than I ever had. I was pretending to be asleep where they had laid me. I could here them shuffling about.

I concentrated and waited the longest time I could bear to release the energy. I pointed my hand toward the sky and released it. Once it was released I quickly dropped my hand. I must have waited to long to release for the other release did not come and I lost consciousness.