The story of Elenion is based on the Lord of the Rings movies, directed by Peter Jackson. The characters, with the exception of Elenion, belong to J.R.R. Tolkien. Elenion is a character all my own. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 14: Departure from Rivendell
The morning sun rose brightly over Rivendell on the morning that the Fellowship would be leaving. Elenion looked out from her balcony on what she felt would be the last time. She knew not what this journey would throw in her direction, only that nothing in life was ever easy. She had packed the things she intended on carrying. Her sais and her bow and arrows were probably the biggest burden, but she was used to carrying them.
She had dressed herself in an untraditional way for any she-elf, which was her guise. It had never been seen before for a woman to embark on such a mission as she had committed herself to. To wear a dress would be a burden. Her outfit was composed of a greenish-grey long sleeved tunic with leggings to match, and over this she wore a white tunic, which laced through eyelets up the back and was sleeveless, fashioned more like a tabard rather than a true tunic to where it split into a front and back flap, revealing the darker tunic and leggings underneath. Below the waist band, the side splits stopped right below her hip bones and the flaps extended to mid-shin length in the front and mid-calf in the back. Over her forearms, she had leather arm guards slipped over her tunic and laced along the inner sides through eyelets.
Her hair hung straight over her back and shoulders and descended down to her waist. She had taken two sections along the sides, braided them and tied them back behind her head. Her entire look was more like that of the male warrior elves. The last thing the fellowship needed at any time was for anybody they encountered to question the role of a woman. She was surprised for the most part that she was being allowed to go, but Gandalf and Elrond both seemed approving.
As she finished dressing, there was a knock on her door. She predicted it to be her father, coming to walk her down to where the rest of the fellowship was gathering. She opened the door to his friendly grin, and went about the rest of her packing. She strapped her sheaths to the belt she was wearing and slipped her sais into their resting places. Across her back, she strapped her arrows and bow into their quivers and turned to face her father, who smiled at her.
She laughed awkwardly at her appearance as he looked her over. She had always preferred pants to dresses and it was not in her nature to do anything else but travel, but in Rivendell, he would have had her dress in no other way. She had never been destined for a life of servitude or simplicity. Her mother had named her Elenion, using the masculine -ion ending because it was strong, and she believed a strong name was needed for her child's path in life. Elenion secretly liked the reaction that came with her introduction. Upon expecting a man, most people were shocked to find a girl who looked so delicate and young. Her surface appearance never suggested the skill of the warrior within.
Gandalf peered fondly at his daughter. "Are you nervous," he asked. She glanced up at him. "No….," she said, the word slipping from her mouth and lingering in the air like fog. Gandalf creased his brow.
"What is on your mind," he asked. She looked up at him and smiled. She hadn't really been thinking of anything in particular, just pondering what the journey ahead of them would be like. She knew there was no way of knowing.
"Nothing, really. Things in general, to be honest," she stated. He took a step closer to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"There is no need to worry," he assured her. She nodded at him as her eyes drifted to the floor. After a moment she rose her head to look into his eyes.
"I am not worried. I do, however, wish none of this had happened. Especially to Frodo…..," she said, her thoughts drifting. Gandalf nodded in agreement.
"I wish the same, but the past cannot be changed. Frodo wishes to do this…," he said. Elenion nodded.
"Frodo will see it done…," she said, smiling at him. She was determined to see Frodo's task go through, just as she was determined to keep Aragorn safe for Arwen. A last thought lingered in her mind, and she hadn't realized she had spoken it. Gandalf let the words rest in his mind as they walked down from her room.
"No matter what it takes….," she had said. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was referring to something other than Frodo's task or her pledge to Frodo himself. The look in her eyes was a haunted one. He watched her as she walked beside him, so consumed in thought she no longer realized he was even there. He was glad to see her snap out of her trance when they reached the others gathered around the exit of Rivendell. Elrond was there with Boromir and Aragorn. Gandalf slipped away to talk with Elrond and Aragorn soon slipped out of sight as well. She had not seen Arwen, and hoped that maybe he had gone to at least say goodbye to her. Gimli soon arrived, followed by the hobbits, poor Samwise Gamgee having to tug along the pony they had brought with them from Weathertop. She soon spotted Legolas. The pit of her stomach seemed to contract at the sight of him. She found herself having to look away and was thankful when Pippin ran up to say hi to her. He ran off nearly as quickly as he had darted over. She looked over at Legolas again for only a moment when someone else distracted her. She turned and expected to be looking at someone eye to eye, and had to lower her head to look into the eyes of Gimli. He cleared his throat.
"May I have a moment," he asked, mumbling to where it was nearly unintelligible. Elenion was confused about why he would wish to speak with her. At the council, he hadn't appeared to have liked her at all. She stepped aside with the dwarf, curious as to what he would say. He mumbled about a bit, and looked everywhere but at her at the beginning. She found herself smiling at him in his bumbling state. He finally looked at her and began to speak to her as opposed to himself.
"I just….erghh…wanted to…apologize for any of my previous statements that might have offended you," he finally spat out. Elenion smiled at him, knowing he was referring to the council and all of his comments about elves. She shook her head.
"No, Gimli…there is no need to apologize to me," she began, but he cut her off.
"I had no right to talk to any woman in that manner, miss," the dwarf said, and she realized he wasn't going to back down from apologizing. She let him continue.
"I have since been made aware of your greatness. You are no mere she-elf. Had I known of the blood that you carry before, I would have been at your feet…," he rambled. Elenion's eyes grew wider and she blinked in disbelief at what he was saying. He took a knee in front of her and she glanced around, hoping nobody was wondering why he was doing this.
"We dwarves have a high respect for your kind, milady. This Fellowship is blessed to have you in it. I am honored to be making this journey with you," he finished. Elenion was both flattered and relieved as he rose to his feet. She smiled at him, truly touched by his sentiments.
"Thank you, Gimli….it is also my honor to be in your presence," she said, bowing slightly to him. He bowed back at her and then walked away, mumbling to himself again. She was about to walk away when someone else approached her. She turned and saw the black leather tunic of Boromir and then looked up into the blue of his eyes. Something rested there that she could not define. Within the murky blue irises, something else swirled. She felt captivated, as if staring into them longer would help her solve the riddle within. He smiled at her gently.
"Why is it that you look at me and I feel that you see right through me," he asked softly. Elenion smiled and finally blinked, looking anywhere but into those eyes.
"Emotions radiate off of you, Boromir. Your thoughts are so strong that I feel as if they spill out to me. What ails you so," she finally asked. She had sensed the growing pressure on Boromir when she first met him by the spring, and felt it more throughout Elrond's council, and she felt it even more as he stood there looking at her. It was as if he carried with him a subconscious cry for help of some sort. She did not know if she could give it to him.
"I worry about a lot of things. Things I have no right to burden you with," he said. She put a hand on his shoulder as he turned to walk away and he stopped to look back at her. She withdrew her hand upon spotting the look on his face. He had winced as though her touch had been a stinging one. She sighed and forced herself to speak despite the tortured look she was studying in his eyes.
"I would not have asked had I not felt I could handle it. You carry a heavy burden of your own. I can feel it," she said softly to him. He had not known that she could read minds, and Elenion herself did not understand why she was blocking his. She hadn't heard anything in his mind, yet she knew how troubled he was. The connection she held with Boromir frightened her as much as it intrigued her. He sighed a heavy sigh and turned back to her.
"I worry for my people. For my father and brother and the future of Gondor. I worry that this mission will fail, and even more so, that I will….," he let trail off. Elenion did not pressure him. It was enough that he had chosen to tell her anything, and why he did so, she couldn't guess. Elenion nodded.
"We all worry about what will happen. We each have to fight hard for our individual reasons, as well as the purpose of this fellowship. Fight what ails you, Boromir. Fight it hard with all of your strength. For Gondor, for your people. For Frodo, for this land…for our world, Boromir….," she said. His eyes looked back into hers, something new swirling in their depths for her to attempt to unravel. He smiled the smallest of smiles, and she found herself responding with one. He spoke softly.
"I'll fight for you as well, Elenion….you….who has given me hope….," he said almost dreamily. He smiled at her and turned to walk away, and this time she let him go.
Elves were starting to show up to see the fellowship off, and Elenion spotted Arwen. She strode over to her friend and looked into the sad blue eyes. Her heart ached at the idea of leaving Arwen in such a fragile state.
"I regret having to leave you at a time like this," Elenion said softly to Arwen. Arwen attempted to smile at her.
"I am here, with my father and you have a huge task before you. You were meant to go, as was Aragorn, and my heart will heal….," Arwen said, trying to be optimistic. Elenion knew in her heart that Arwen was keeping something secret. She had not the time or opportunity to delve into it all and find out what it was and it made her sad. Elenion smiled at her friend.
"It's going to be lonely out there without you….without our talks," Elenion laughed lightly then looked up at Arwen. "You've been my best friend," she said, hoping Arwen knew just how much she meant to those that loved her. Arwen smiled at her.
"I'll still be your best friend….when you get back," Arwen said with a smile. "Don't worry about me, I will be fine….here in Rivendell, under my father's wing…," she smiled. Elenion nodded despite the fact that she would worry for Arwen. Arwen smiled and continued.
"Besides, we can still talk in a way…..," she smiled at Elenion and it made her laugh. They shared a telepathic bond. Elenion nodded and agreed.
"Yes, I suppose we still can," she smiled. Elenion took notice as the Fellowship began to gather as a whole. She looked up at Arwen.
"Your father is about to send us off…I best get back over there…," she smirked at Arwen and sighed. She hugged her friend for what would be the last time in a long while.
"Amin mela lle, Arwen," Elenion stated. Arwen hugged her back and reciprocated the feeling, then wiped a single tear from her cheek. "Just go, Elenion," she said with a small laugh. Elenion laughed. "Namarie…," she said as she turned to head back to the group. Elrond had already begun speaking to them, and Elenion slipped past Boromir and stood alongside her father. A familiar figure slipped in beside her, and she looked sideways at Legolas. He turned and glanced at her as well, the slightest grin escaping his otherwise placid expression. She found herself comforted by his presence and was able to actually listen to what Elrond had to say.
After wishing them well, Elenion noticed that Elrond looked personally relieved to see the ring go from his beloved Rivendell. She glanced over at the ring as it hung from Frodo's neck. She understood not how the corruption of men and the races of Middle Earth could be defined by one tiny object. She had witnessed the ring, heard it's call as it taunted the others at the council. She had longed to put her hand over it and quiet it's voice. She had decided not to act against the ring itself at the council, seeing as how none there would have understood how she was resistant when they were not. Gandalf's voice distracted her thoughts.
"The Fellowship awaits the ring bearer," he announced. Elenion's eyes darted instantly back to Frodo. He stepped forward and began to lead the group from Rivendell. Elenion looked over at Legolas one last time before the rest of the group began to follow Frodo. He stared back at her, as though he wished to tell her something. She wanted to urge him to say it, whatever was on his mind. He would do it on his own, she decided, as her pulse picked up. She rarely got nervous but he was able to bring out the trait in her. She felt as though time had frozen somehow. She no longer heard the birds around her, or noticed the leaves falling from the trees. She only saw those eyes. She felt she had seen them so many times before, was positive of it as he stared back at her. She had been positive of it the night they had talked under the stars, and the words he had said had sealed it. Now, she finally was able to look into those eyes that she had always wanted to gaze into, and she didn't have time.
He looked only a moment longer, grinned at her and lightly bowed his head. He slowly grabbed her hand and lightly kissed it, catching her completely off guard. She had not been expecting that. Then, with not even so much as a backwards glance, he turned to walk ahead of her and with that walk, he took a part of her. She could not define the feeling, even to herself. She watched in a daze, confused for only a second before regaining her composure. She had wanted him to say something, wanted to hear his voice. She knew that was probably hopeless. She would never have that moment again, especially with the journey that lay ahead.
She looked back once at Arwen. She had to conquer the fear of leaving, of not being there for Arwen. Arwen spoke to her in her head.
"Elenion, I will be fine. You must fight your fears, your pain, and your weaknesses. Let your heart be too open now and it will be for the worst. Go now, do not fret…., we will meet again," she had said. Elenion nodded and smiled at Arwen over the words nobody else knew they had shared. She turned and followed the group and was finally able to smile to herself. She followed along, beating the first fear she had. She had left and it had begun. The ring was now heading South.