Author's Note: Yes, it's finally up- Nota Bene, some- er, large portions of text were taken from Chapter 7 of ArwenAria18's story A Sense of Belonging. I've only altered the scene to include my characters. All Hail and Praise to the wonderful ArwenAria...I am very sorry this has taken so long, but it is not entirely my fault. My computer and Marvin (the mobile device I write on) have been refusing to speak to each other. Thanks to any/all faithful readers who have stuck it out with me. -Kathryn Angelle
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Two days after Rhian, Erin, and Rosie had arrived in Rivendell, there was a meeting called by Gandalf.
Gandalf had mysteriously called for a meeting with Elrond, Bilbo, Frodo, Strider, Arwen, some other elf-lords, and a few various strangers who had recently arrived in Rivendell. It was, he said, a matter concerning Aria, and the two young women from her world.
Merry and Pippin were indignant at being left out. Frodo told them in a whisper that they were needed to keep Aria busy, however; so they acquiesced. Samwise Hamfast's son went with Frodo, though not invited. Sam had only just met Aria the day before, but already had declared to Frodo that she was, "...a most wonderful girl, I'll say, is all. You know, master, how I've always been so tooken with Elves and such, but they're above me, if you take my meaning. This here lady, here, she's more... well, more homelike, so to speak. She's as fair as any of the Elves, though, I'll say." He was forever afterward as devoted a servant to Aria as to Frodo. Of Rhian and Erin, he was in awe of Rhian's storytelling, and Erin's dance (she had been coaxed into a performance by Aria) and he was especially fond of Rosie; "'Tis a fine name, Rosie," he had said.
The group met in the Hall of Fire. Gandalf faced the rest, alongside Elrond.
"Friends," the wizard began, "I've discovered something, with the help of Elrond, which could, perhaps, change things drastically.
"You may have met the Lady Aria, a companion of the hobbits. I have spoken with her on a few occasions, and she is a most delightful young hobbit, harmless in and of herself -" here Frodo began to protest that Aria was no hobbit; but Gandalf stayed him with a lift of his hand, "but it is this that makes her a danger: she is not of Middle-earth, but from a time far in the future."
Frodo started. Sam furrowed his brow in confusion. There was a general murmuring round the table.
"She does not fully realize, I think, the damage she could potentially do. There is danger whenever the future touches the past. But especially at this crucial time, it is perilous for her to be here. I have long spoken with Elrond, and we have reached no decision as to what should be done.
"I would ask all your opinions in a moment. First you should know more of her. When she showed me her lineage she had traced, she said that it was of her "birth parents", also that she had been "adopted". The man and woman who raised her were not her true blood-parents, and she had no knowledge of what her real parents or her ancestors looked like.
"With Elrond's sight and my skill we have traced forward far enough to find that she is half Elf, half hobbit. I would explain to you all the method we used, but it is too involved and would be above the comprehension of most of you, so this must suffice: she is not descended of Men, as she says, as she no doubt believes. She is, in fact, a distant descendant of Peregrin Took."
There was a silence. Frodo stared. His mouth was open, as was Sam's beside him. They, and a few others, alone knew what this would mean to Aria. Gandalf laughed suddenly. "I will let you tell her. Now Frodo, I would be grateful if you would explain how she came here. It is not a pleasant story, but it needs to be told." Frodo swallowed and nodded, getting to his feet.
Out of all there, only Frodo, Gandalf, Bilbo, and Elrond knew what had happened. As the others listened, each showed a reaction.
All the elf-lords gathered glowed white-hot with wrath, eyes blazing steadily as they listened.
Arwen's eyes widened in horror, and she began to weep silently, and her hands shook.
Aragorn beside her was grim, with a fell light kindling in his eyes. He twined his fingers with Arwen's and grasped her trembling hand tightly.
Two dwarves, Glóin and his young son Gimli, sat with their beards bristling and their meaty hands on their axe hilts.
A tall, silent Man named Boromir folded his arms and set his mouth in a line, closing his eyes. His jaw muscles tightened.
Legolas, and Elven-prince of Mirkwood, narrowed his bright eyes in anger, his lips white and slightly parted. His handsome face was distorted.
Sam was shaking from head to foot with barely controlled rage. When Frodo finished and dropped to his seat breathless, Sam cursed loudly and slammed his fist on the table, his normally mild hobbit-eyes shooting sparks. He railed at the dead man with both clenched hands upraised.
Frodo put his hand on Sam's shoulder. Sam let fall his arms and sat again sheepishly, still angry. Frodo whispered earnestly in his ear, and Sam nodded.
Elrond stood. Everyone tried to quiet themselves.
"My friends," he began, "The man is dead, and all you can do is now to make young Aria feel welcome. But I would put this question before you: What is to be done? If she were to change something, it could mean the difference between victory and defeat. We must choose carefully."
"The danger is too great," Gimli spoke up. "We cannot risk such chances, with the Shadow growing. I would say she should be sent back."
"I, too, sir dwarf. I am sorry for her, but she could have too large an effect." said Boromir.
"What harm could she do to our safety if she is nowhere near the shadow-land? There is little she can change in Rivendell," Legolas protested.
"Trust an elf to think that," Gimli retorted.
"The smallest alteration could have results unforseen, Legolas," Aragorn said quietly.
"Is it not unkind to send her away? She is so small. And each of us could make small decisions which cause great and terrible results," Arwen said indignantly. "She is no more threat than anyone here."
Elrond nodded to her. "You have a point, daughter. However, things must not be disturbed from the course which has been set."
"But how do we know that she is not a part of that course?"
Small arguments broke out as many began to speak at once. Then -
"How could she be sent back?"
Silence. All eyes turned to Frodo. Elrond exchanged glances with Gandalf. "Go on."
"Would it not be pointless to discuss which choice to make when we have none?" Frodo looked at the wizard. "Do you know how to send her home?"
Gandalf smiled remotely. "Well said, Frodo son of Drogo. We do not know how to send her home."
"Then why in Gondor did you call us here?" Boromir demanded impatiently.
Elrond met his gaze. "To start these thoughts in your mind. There may be no other course now, but with more thought, mayhap danger will be averted. Beware of letting her sway anything! And yet consider the words of Arwen; she may have come as no accident."
"And what of the two who came later, Ladies Rhian and Erin?" asked Legolas- he, like Sam, had also been awed by Erin's dance.
"And Rosie," added Sam.
"Yes," Gandalf said. "Those two are perhaps more likely to change the course of what will be than Lady Aria. For one, they know something of the Ring," Frodo started at this, but the wizard went on, "for in their time there has, apparently, been written a book the story of the Ring. Lady Aria knew only the adventures of Bilbo; and she remembered them after her arrival here. Lady Rhian and Lady Erin, however, tell me that they can not remember the story of Middle Earth, that their memory is clouded. And there is this-" he laid a hand on the red leather volume beside him. "Lady Rhian tells me that this is the book, but its pages are empty."
Exclamations and arguments began around the room, about what this could mean, but Frodo ended them by asking suddenly- "If Aria is half hobbit and a Took, what are Rhian and Erin?"
"I would not be half surprised if Lady Erin had elven blood," Legolas observed.
"You are right," Elrond said. "Lady Erin and Lady Rhian do have a small amount of elven blood, but predominantly they are of the race of Man. They are descended, we have discovered, from both the race of Rohan and Gondor."
"How so?"
"The Stewards of Gondor are part of their line, and that of the Lords of the Mark."
There were voices outside, and Elrond fell silent- a moment later the window that opened to the gardens showed a view of Merry and Pippin, both on hands and knees pursuing a squealing Rosie. Behind them Rhian, her long dark hair braided and drawn over one shoulder, walked with Erin, who's her hair loose. Rhian had on her jeans, but with a dark green tunic of elven make, brown leather boots. Erin wore a white dress, a silver embroidered kirtle around her waist. The two were talking, their heads close together- suddenly Rosie called to Rhian, and she laughed out loud. She made a running start and suddenly cast herself into a row of four cartwheels. The counsel watched her toss Rosie in the air and catch her. She collapsed in the grass, Rosie on top of her, and began tickling the six year old until she screamed for mercy. Then she got up and took Rosie's hand and began dancing with her, beginning to sing the first song that popped into her head-
" Now my life is rosy...since I found my Rosie...with a girl like Rosie, how could I be blue? Hand and hand we'll mosey, me and little Rosie, we will be so cozy, by a fire, built for two. Oh I once heard a poem that goes; 'Rose, is a rose, is a rose'. But I don't agree, take it from me, that there's one rose sweeter than any that grows and that's my Rosie...I'm so glad you chose me. Life is one sweet beautiful song to me!"
"I can not," Sam said suddenly, "think ill of any of them. Beggin' your pardon, sirs."
________
That night after dinner, Elrond asked Rhian to sing.
"If my lord wishes," she said, as always, "but surely Lady Arwen's voice is sweeter than mine."
"Not so," said one of the elven ladies. "Her voice is her own. I heard you singing in the garden," she added, "and would hear more."
Rhian stood up, and begged leave to go get her lap harp from her room. When she returned with it, she sat quietly for a moment, then began to play softly.
"Once, as my heart remembers,
all the stars were fallen embers.
Once, when night seemed forever
I was with you.
Once, in the care of morning
in the air was all belonging.
Once, when that day was dawning
I was with you.
How far we are from morning,
how far we are
and the stars shining through the darkness
falling in the air.
Once, as the night was leaving
into us our dreams were weaving.
Once, all dreams were worth keeping.
I was with you.
Once, when our hearts were singing,
I was with you."
She let the last word fade softly into the air, shivering. Tears stood in the eyes of some. Aria, looking away from Rhian, caught a look passing between Arwen and Aragorn- a look she had seen before. "Erin sing now," Rosie mumbled. Expectant eyes turned to Erin as Rhian pulled her up by a hand. "Only if Rhian sings with me," she said.
Rhian left her harp on the chair and stood. Erin began, high and clear-
"Quando sono sola
sogno all'orizzonte
e mancan le parole
si lo sa che non c'e luce
in una stanza quandow manca il sole
se non ci sei tu con me, con me
Su le finestre
mostra a tutti il mio cuore
che hair acceso
chiudi dentro me
la luce che
hai incontrato per strada
Time To Say Goodbye
paesi che non ho mai
veduto e vissuto con te
adesso si li vivro
su navi per mari
che io lo so
no no non esistono piu
It's Time To Say Goodbye."
Rhian began as Erin's last note faded.
"Quando sei lontana
sogno all'orissonte
e mancan le parole
e io si lo so
che sei con me, con me
tu mia luna tu sei qui con me
mio sole tu sei qui con me
con me, con me, con me
Time To Say Goodbye
paesi che non ho mai
veduto e vissuto con te
adesso si li vivro
con te partiro
su navi per mari
che io lo so
no no non esistono piu
con te io li rivivro."
Then they both sang, voices high and low blending delicately-
"Con te partiro
su navi per mari
che io lo so
no no non esistono piu
con te io li rivivro
con te partiro
lo con te."
Later that evening, when they were sitting in an upstairs room where a fire was burning- Rhian, with a sleeping Rosie in her arms, Erin, Legolas, Aragorn, Arwen, Gimli the dwarf (across the room from Legolas), the hobbits and Aria, Boromir, Elrond, and Gandalf -the wizard turned to Rhian and asked "Lady, tonight you sang in a language I do not know. What was it?"
"Italien. A very beautiful language- a great many songs are written in it. It's not," she added, "as old as Gaelic, though."
"Gaelic? What language is that?"
Rhian shifted Rosie a little. "The language of my ancestry, the Celtic races. Scotch, Irish. It is not much used in the time of my birth, but it is truly the most beautiful and musical tongue of my world." There was a time when she had thought it the most beautiful of any tongue, but that was before she heard the elves speak among themselves.
"And do you sing in this language?"
"Some. My mother used to sing to me in Gaelic, and my father would recite Gaelic poetry. Even if I didn't understand it I loved its sound." She sang softly, a distant look in her eyes. "Ag amhare fe m'oige, is me bhi samh, qau eolas marbh..." She stopped. "I should put Rosie to bed."
She slipped out.
The stars were shining brightly as Erin walked slowly through the gardens with Legolas- the two had talked all evening, and now into the night. From an upstairs window drifted down the sound of a soft, clear voice, singing quietly to the darkness.
"When the eveing falls and the daylight is fading,
from within me calls - could it be I am sleeping?
for a moment I stray, then it holds me completely.
Close to home - I can not say.
Close to home - feeling so far away.
As I walk the room, there before me a shadow
from another world, where no other can follow.
carry me to my own, to where I can cross over...
Close to home - I can not say.
Close to home - feeling so far away.
Forever searching, never right, I am lost in oceans of night.
Forever hoping I can find memories. Those memories I left behind.
Even though I leave will I go on believing
that this time is real - am I lost in this feeling?
like a child passing through, never knowing the reason.
I am home - I know the way.
I am home - feeling oh, so far away..."
Author's Note: That song seemed so fitted to this story I had to put it in. It's 'Evening Falls' from the Enya album Watermark. The song 'Rosie' is from Bye Bye Birdy (chosen for that scene because these are songs I sing to the kids I babysit. They like them. Those lyrics were written from memory). The Gaelic song is an exerpt from 'Na Laetha Seal M'oige', also by Enya, also from Watermark. I don't know what it means in English, sorry. 'Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro)' is by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli. It's from the album Time To Say Goodbye, by Sarah Brightman, and is an absolutely gorgeous song and I love it and my new voice teacher says I'll be able to sing it. (I'm gonna learn Italien, I'm gonna learn Italien!). Yes I know, as my brother tells me; "You have a bad habit of listing things you like in this story." I swear I don't do it anywhere else! Heehee...expect Rhian to spontaneously launch into a one person performance of The Phantom of the Opera (I do this. It drives some people very very crazy). Just kidding, but there is a distinct possibility she'll do a few numbers. I like Phantom. ;)
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Two days after Rhian, Erin, and Rosie had arrived in Rivendell, there was a meeting called by Gandalf.
Gandalf had mysteriously called for a meeting with Elrond, Bilbo, Frodo, Strider, Arwen, some other elf-lords, and a few various strangers who had recently arrived in Rivendell. It was, he said, a matter concerning Aria, and the two young women from her world.
Merry and Pippin were indignant at being left out. Frodo told them in a whisper that they were needed to keep Aria busy, however; so they acquiesced. Samwise Hamfast's son went with Frodo, though not invited. Sam had only just met Aria the day before, but already had declared to Frodo that she was, "...a most wonderful girl, I'll say, is all. You know, master, how I've always been so tooken with Elves and such, but they're above me, if you take my meaning. This here lady, here, she's more... well, more homelike, so to speak. She's as fair as any of the Elves, though, I'll say." He was forever afterward as devoted a servant to Aria as to Frodo. Of Rhian and Erin, he was in awe of Rhian's storytelling, and Erin's dance (she had been coaxed into a performance by Aria) and he was especially fond of Rosie; "'Tis a fine name, Rosie," he had said.
The group met in the Hall of Fire. Gandalf faced the rest, alongside Elrond.
"Friends," the wizard began, "I've discovered something, with the help of Elrond, which could, perhaps, change things drastically.
"You may have met the Lady Aria, a companion of the hobbits. I have spoken with her on a few occasions, and she is a most delightful young hobbit, harmless in and of herself -" here Frodo began to protest that Aria was no hobbit; but Gandalf stayed him with a lift of his hand, "but it is this that makes her a danger: she is not of Middle-earth, but from a time far in the future."
Frodo started. Sam furrowed his brow in confusion. There was a general murmuring round the table.
"She does not fully realize, I think, the damage she could potentially do. There is danger whenever the future touches the past. But especially at this crucial time, it is perilous for her to be here. I have long spoken with Elrond, and we have reached no decision as to what should be done.
"I would ask all your opinions in a moment. First you should know more of her. When she showed me her lineage she had traced, she said that it was of her "birth parents", also that she had been "adopted". The man and woman who raised her were not her true blood-parents, and she had no knowledge of what her real parents or her ancestors looked like.
"With Elrond's sight and my skill we have traced forward far enough to find that she is half Elf, half hobbit. I would explain to you all the method we used, but it is too involved and would be above the comprehension of most of you, so this must suffice: she is not descended of Men, as she says, as she no doubt believes. She is, in fact, a distant descendant of Peregrin Took."
There was a silence. Frodo stared. His mouth was open, as was Sam's beside him. They, and a few others, alone knew what this would mean to Aria. Gandalf laughed suddenly. "I will let you tell her. Now Frodo, I would be grateful if you would explain how she came here. It is not a pleasant story, but it needs to be told." Frodo swallowed and nodded, getting to his feet.
Out of all there, only Frodo, Gandalf, Bilbo, and Elrond knew what had happened. As the others listened, each showed a reaction.
All the elf-lords gathered glowed white-hot with wrath, eyes blazing steadily as they listened.
Arwen's eyes widened in horror, and she began to weep silently, and her hands shook.
Aragorn beside her was grim, with a fell light kindling in his eyes. He twined his fingers with Arwen's and grasped her trembling hand tightly.
Two dwarves, Glóin and his young son Gimli, sat with their beards bristling and their meaty hands on their axe hilts.
A tall, silent Man named Boromir folded his arms and set his mouth in a line, closing his eyes. His jaw muscles tightened.
Legolas, and Elven-prince of Mirkwood, narrowed his bright eyes in anger, his lips white and slightly parted. His handsome face was distorted.
Sam was shaking from head to foot with barely controlled rage. When Frodo finished and dropped to his seat breathless, Sam cursed loudly and slammed his fist on the table, his normally mild hobbit-eyes shooting sparks. He railed at the dead man with both clenched hands upraised.
Frodo put his hand on Sam's shoulder. Sam let fall his arms and sat again sheepishly, still angry. Frodo whispered earnestly in his ear, and Sam nodded.
Elrond stood. Everyone tried to quiet themselves.
"My friends," he began, "The man is dead, and all you can do is now to make young Aria feel welcome. But I would put this question before you: What is to be done? If she were to change something, it could mean the difference between victory and defeat. We must choose carefully."
"The danger is too great," Gimli spoke up. "We cannot risk such chances, with the Shadow growing. I would say she should be sent back."
"I, too, sir dwarf. I am sorry for her, but she could have too large an effect." said Boromir.
"What harm could she do to our safety if she is nowhere near the shadow-land? There is little she can change in Rivendell," Legolas protested.
"Trust an elf to think that," Gimli retorted.
"The smallest alteration could have results unforseen, Legolas," Aragorn said quietly.
"Is it not unkind to send her away? She is so small. And each of us could make small decisions which cause great and terrible results," Arwen said indignantly. "She is no more threat than anyone here."
Elrond nodded to her. "You have a point, daughter. However, things must not be disturbed from the course which has been set."
"But how do we know that she is not a part of that course?"
Small arguments broke out as many began to speak at once. Then -
"How could she be sent back?"
Silence. All eyes turned to Frodo. Elrond exchanged glances with Gandalf. "Go on."
"Would it not be pointless to discuss which choice to make when we have none?" Frodo looked at the wizard. "Do you know how to send her home?"
Gandalf smiled remotely. "Well said, Frodo son of Drogo. We do not know how to send her home."
"Then why in Gondor did you call us here?" Boromir demanded impatiently.
Elrond met his gaze. "To start these thoughts in your mind. There may be no other course now, but with more thought, mayhap danger will be averted. Beware of letting her sway anything! And yet consider the words of Arwen; she may have come as no accident."
"And what of the two who came later, Ladies Rhian and Erin?" asked Legolas- he, like Sam, had also been awed by Erin's dance.
"And Rosie," added Sam.
"Yes," Gandalf said. "Those two are perhaps more likely to change the course of what will be than Lady Aria. For one, they know something of the Ring," Frodo started at this, but the wizard went on, "for in their time there has, apparently, been written a book the story of the Ring. Lady Aria knew only the adventures of Bilbo; and she remembered them after her arrival here. Lady Rhian and Lady Erin, however, tell me that they can not remember the story of Middle Earth, that their memory is clouded. And there is this-" he laid a hand on the red leather volume beside him. "Lady Rhian tells me that this is the book, but its pages are empty."
Exclamations and arguments began around the room, about what this could mean, but Frodo ended them by asking suddenly- "If Aria is half hobbit and a Took, what are Rhian and Erin?"
"I would not be half surprised if Lady Erin had elven blood," Legolas observed.
"You are right," Elrond said. "Lady Erin and Lady Rhian do have a small amount of elven blood, but predominantly they are of the race of Man. They are descended, we have discovered, from both the race of Rohan and Gondor."
"How so?"
"The Stewards of Gondor are part of their line, and that of the Lords of the Mark."
There were voices outside, and Elrond fell silent- a moment later the window that opened to the gardens showed a view of Merry and Pippin, both on hands and knees pursuing a squealing Rosie. Behind them Rhian, her long dark hair braided and drawn over one shoulder, walked with Erin, who's her hair loose. Rhian had on her jeans, but with a dark green tunic of elven make, brown leather boots. Erin wore a white dress, a silver embroidered kirtle around her waist. The two were talking, their heads close together- suddenly Rosie called to Rhian, and she laughed out loud. She made a running start and suddenly cast herself into a row of four cartwheels. The counsel watched her toss Rosie in the air and catch her. She collapsed in the grass, Rosie on top of her, and began tickling the six year old until she screamed for mercy. Then she got up and took Rosie's hand and began dancing with her, beginning to sing the first song that popped into her head-
" Now my life is rosy...since I found my Rosie...with a girl like Rosie, how could I be blue? Hand and hand we'll mosey, me and little Rosie, we will be so cozy, by a fire, built for two. Oh I once heard a poem that goes; 'Rose, is a rose, is a rose'. But I don't agree, take it from me, that there's one rose sweeter than any that grows and that's my Rosie...I'm so glad you chose me. Life is one sweet beautiful song to me!"
"I can not," Sam said suddenly, "think ill of any of them. Beggin' your pardon, sirs."
________
That night after dinner, Elrond asked Rhian to sing.
"If my lord wishes," she said, as always, "but surely Lady Arwen's voice is sweeter than mine."
"Not so," said one of the elven ladies. "Her voice is her own. I heard you singing in the garden," she added, "and would hear more."
Rhian stood up, and begged leave to go get her lap harp from her room. When she returned with it, she sat quietly for a moment, then began to play softly.
"Once, as my heart remembers,
all the stars were fallen embers.
Once, when night seemed forever
I was with you.
Once, in the care of morning
in the air was all belonging.
Once, when that day was dawning
I was with you.
How far we are from morning,
how far we are
and the stars shining through the darkness
falling in the air.
Once, as the night was leaving
into us our dreams were weaving.
Once, all dreams were worth keeping.
I was with you.
Once, when our hearts were singing,
I was with you."
She let the last word fade softly into the air, shivering. Tears stood in the eyes of some. Aria, looking away from Rhian, caught a look passing between Arwen and Aragorn- a look she had seen before. "Erin sing now," Rosie mumbled. Expectant eyes turned to Erin as Rhian pulled her up by a hand. "Only if Rhian sings with me," she said.
Rhian left her harp on the chair and stood. Erin began, high and clear-
"Quando sono sola
sogno all'orizzonte
e mancan le parole
si lo sa che non c'e luce
in una stanza quandow manca il sole
se non ci sei tu con me, con me
Su le finestre
mostra a tutti il mio cuore
che hair acceso
chiudi dentro me
la luce che
hai incontrato per strada
Time To Say Goodbye
paesi che non ho mai
veduto e vissuto con te
adesso si li vivro
su navi per mari
che io lo so
no no non esistono piu
It's Time To Say Goodbye."
Rhian began as Erin's last note faded.
"Quando sei lontana
sogno all'orissonte
e mancan le parole
e io si lo so
che sei con me, con me
tu mia luna tu sei qui con me
mio sole tu sei qui con me
con me, con me, con me
Time To Say Goodbye
paesi che non ho mai
veduto e vissuto con te
adesso si li vivro
con te partiro
su navi per mari
che io lo so
no no non esistono piu
con te io li rivivro."
Then they both sang, voices high and low blending delicately-
"Con te partiro
su navi per mari
che io lo so
no no non esistono piu
con te io li rivivro
con te partiro
lo con te."
Later that evening, when they were sitting in an upstairs room where a fire was burning- Rhian, with a sleeping Rosie in her arms, Erin, Legolas, Aragorn, Arwen, Gimli the dwarf (across the room from Legolas), the hobbits and Aria, Boromir, Elrond, and Gandalf -the wizard turned to Rhian and asked "Lady, tonight you sang in a language I do not know. What was it?"
"Italien. A very beautiful language- a great many songs are written in it. It's not," she added, "as old as Gaelic, though."
"Gaelic? What language is that?"
Rhian shifted Rosie a little. "The language of my ancestry, the Celtic races. Scotch, Irish. It is not much used in the time of my birth, but it is truly the most beautiful and musical tongue of my world." There was a time when she had thought it the most beautiful of any tongue, but that was before she heard the elves speak among themselves.
"And do you sing in this language?"
"Some. My mother used to sing to me in Gaelic, and my father would recite Gaelic poetry. Even if I didn't understand it I loved its sound." She sang softly, a distant look in her eyes. "Ag amhare fe m'oige, is me bhi samh, qau eolas marbh..." She stopped. "I should put Rosie to bed."
She slipped out.
The stars were shining brightly as Erin walked slowly through the gardens with Legolas- the two had talked all evening, and now into the night. From an upstairs window drifted down the sound of a soft, clear voice, singing quietly to the darkness.
"When the eveing falls and the daylight is fading,
from within me calls - could it be I am sleeping?
for a moment I stray, then it holds me completely.
Close to home - I can not say.
Close to home - feeling so far away.
As I walk the room, there before me a shadow
from another world, where no other can follow.
carry me to my own, to where I can cross over...
Close to home - I can not say.
Close to home - feeling so far away.
Forever searching, never right, I am lost in oceans of night.
Forever hoping I can find memories. Those memories I left behind.
Even though I leave will I go on believing
that this time is real - am I lost in this feeling?
like a child passing through, never knowing the reason.
I am home - I know the way.
I am home - feeling oh, so far away..."
Author's Note: That song seemed so fitted to this story I had to put it in. It's 'Evening Falls' from the Enya album Watermark. The song 'Rosie' is from Bye Bye Birdy (chosen for that scene because these are songs I sing to the kids I babysit. They like them. Those lyrics were written from memory). The Gaelic song is an exerpt from 'Na Laetha Seal M'oige', also by Enya, also from Watermark. I don't know what it means in English, sorry. 'Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro)' is by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli. It's from the album Time To Say Goodbye, by Sarah Brightman, and is an absolutely gorgeous song and I love it and my new voice teacher says I'll be able to sing it. (I'm gonna learn Italien, I'm gonna learn Italien!). Yes I know, as my brother tells me; "You have a bad habit of listing things you like in this story." I swear I don't do it anywhere else! Heehee...expect Rhian to spontaneously launch into a one person performance of The Phantom of the Opera (I do this. It drives some people very very crazy). Just kidding, but there is a distinct possibility she'll do a few numbers. I like Phantom. ;)