Chapter Eight: Vanyaleuthil's Courage
Vanyaleuthil swept down the hall, with her hand in Legolas's. Whispers followed them.
"Is that Vanyaleuthil? She is so beautiful."
"It's impossible…I should be where Legolas is now."
"It is Vanyaleuthil Ancalima Noldowen Gilelee Vanya-ng'ante Alfirin Fair-Gem Angel Wise-Woman Star-Eyes Beautiful-Harp Small-Golden-Flower!"
"And Prince Legolas Greenleaf!"
"What if she marries him?"
"He won't. I'll marry her."
"Look how graceful she is!"
"And she is so brave and courageous!"
"Vanyaleuthil will have much to say at the Council!"
"I hope she sits by me!"
Vanyaleuthil just smiled at the others. She was about to sit next to an Elf named Analdur when Legolas said, "Sit by me, Vanyaleuthil."
So she sat down between Legolas and Elrohir, one of Elrond's sons. Elrohir said, "Are you Vanyaleuthil Ancalima Noldowen Gilelee Vanya-ng'ante Alfirin Fair-Gem Angel Wise-Woman Star-Eyes Beautiful-Harp Small-Golden-Flower? Your beauty is most renowned!" Elrohir scooted his chair closer to Vanyaleuthil and said, "That necklace is nearly as beautiful as you are!"
He took the Harma Mela in his hand, but Legolas said angrily, "Leave her alone, Elrohir."
He scowled at Legolas and smiled at Vanyaleuthil.
Vanyaleuthil noticed Elrond was staring at her. His eyes remained locked on her slender, curvy frame, beautiful silver-blonde and flaxen curls, huge chest, and dazzling eyes for many minutes. Her extremely acute ears her him say to himself, "I must be dreaming…never has there been a lady so beautiful…"
Finally, Elrond tore his eyes from Vanyaleuthil and began the council. Vanyaleuthil listened. All of the others but Legolas only half paid attention, they were worried about Vanyaleuthil.
Vanyaleuthil listened to a man named Boromir talk of giving the Ring to Gondor. She knew in her heart that this was wrong; the ring had to be destroyed.
She stood up. "You cannot wield it; none of us can."
There was a silence.
"What would a foolish little she-Elf know of the One Ring?" Boromir snarled.
Vanyaleuthil was suddenly aware of the Araukagil on her finger. She knew so much more than she let on.
Legolas jumped to his feet, seething. "This is no foolish little girl, Boromir. She is Vanyaleuthil Ancalima Noldowen Gilelee Vanya-ng'ante Alfirin Fair-Gem Angel Wise-Woman Star-Eyes Beautiful-Harp Small-Golden-Flower! She knows more than you could imagine."
His bright blue eyes flashed at these words.
Suddenly, an argument broke out. Vanyaleuthil tried explaining to Gimli why the Ring had to be destroyed.
"I will take it!" the hobbit, Frodo, shouted over the roar of the arguing people.
The council was now silent.
"I will help you bear this burden," Gandalf said, "Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear."
"You have my sword," Aragorn said.
"And my bow," Legolas said, looking at Vanyaleuthil.
"And my ax," Gimli said proudly.
Vanyaleuthil took a deep breath and pledged: "Frodo Baggins, I, Vanyaleuthil Ancalima Noldowen Gilelee Vanya-ng'ante Alfirin Fair-Gem Angel Wise-Woman Star-Eyes Beautiful-Harp Small-Golden-Flower, swear to protect you at all costs. You have my sword."
She pulled out a long, magical sword made of mithril. Deep blue diamonds in the shape of hearts covered the mithril hilt as well as small opals, diamonds, and pearls of all shades, and tiny platinum swirls decorated it. The blade bore platinum writing in the ancient, unknown tongues of the Mirequendi.
"And my bow."
She pulled her oak bow from her back that was engraved with more silvery-blue writings and held sapphires, amethysts, emeralds, diamonds, topazes, alexandrites, aquamarines, and turquoise in the shape of stars on it.
"And my dagger."
Vanyaleuthil pulled out a sharp dagger made of pure silver and gold (melted together). Many small diamonds of white, gold, and blue decorated the pure silver hilt. Still more writing (of gold) adorned it.
"You carry the fate of us all, Vanyaleuthil," Boromir said to Vanyaleuthil, smiling a smile that did not reach his eyes. Vanyaleuthil got a distinct aura of sneakiness about him but said nothing.
"Lady Vanyaleuthil…you can't," Elrond said.
"I must," Vanyaleuthil said.
Legolas added, "Vanyaleuthil Ancalima Noldowen Gilelee Vanya-ng'ante Alfirin Fair-Gem Angel Wise-Woman Star-Eyes Beautiful-Harp Small-Golden-Flower is courageous beyond belief. I trust her decision, and you should, too."
"Frodo's not going anywhere without me!" a pudgy hobbit cried and rushed up to the group.
"We're coming, too!" cried two hobbits named Merry and Pippin, and they ran over to the group.
Vanyaleuthil smiled and ruffled the hobbits' hair with her graceful hand.
"Ten companions…you shall be the Fellowship of the Ring," Elrond declared, staring at Vanyaleuthil.
Vanyaleuthil was tired. She pulled on her dark red and extremely short nightgown(with long tight sleeves) that was sewn with several dark rubies, pink diamonds, garnets, and jade and emerald (for the petals and stems) in a rose pattern, and brushed her satiny golden waves until they rippled like a reflection of the moon on a river of golden water. Vanyaleuthil washed her gorgeous, pale face and patted it with a towel. She began to sing, pouring all of her deepest feelings into the words passing through her lips.
"When the world was still quite new
And the grass was coated in dew
There dwelt a princeling fair and bright
Who shone like a thousand stars at night
He was a new leaf of soft green
Still coated in ice, a bright blue sheen
He was vulnerable and easily hurt
And when he rode to the—"
A soft sigh pierced her singing. Vanyaleuthil let a little tear, more clear and brilliant than a diamond and twice as valuable, slip down her perfect face. She loved Legolas so much but knew her duty to Middle-earth came before everything else in her life.
Vanyaleuthil stood on her balcony, her gleaming curls swirling in the dark unknown winds of night, singing one long continuous note of confusion and sadness.