Chapter Fourteen: Visit from Lorien
The months passed slowly after the departure of the Fellowship. Mélanyë became very close and rarely smiled for anything. She would often seclude herself in her bakery, or go for long lonely walks in the lands about the Homely House and would usually speak only with Bilbo or Lindir. Nothing held her interest for very long, and even Bilbo found it difficult to make her happy. He and Lindir both knew that losing Frodo had hit her hard, and not being allowed to go with him had only made things worse.
It was at this time when a small group of elves arrived to see Elrond. They had long silver hair, and their faces were fair but grim. On their backs they wore long curving bows and at their sides were bright swords.
Bilbo and Mélanyë had been sitting in the courtyard working on a new poem when they arrived, and they watched as Elrond came to greet them. He spoke quietly to the leader before quickly ushering them inside one of his meeting rooms.
"Who are they?" Bilbo asked with polite curiosity. Mélanyë had gotten up to get a better look at where they had gone, but the group had passed out of sight.
"I don't know. They're from over the mountains," she said sitting back down, "but I don't think they're from Mirkwood." Bilbo thought he caught a faint glimmer in her eyes as she spoke and wondered at it. "Maybe they're from Lorien...Bilbo, I think they're Galadhrim!" She sounded genuinely excited now for the first time in months. Bilbo wasn't sure why these visitors had caught her interest so much, but was delighted she was happy about something.
"Why do you think they're here?" he asked, hoping to keep her interested. She shook her head absently.
"I don't know," she said, more to herself than to him. "From what I've heard about the Galadhrim, they're very shy- even of other elves. Why would they come all this way?" She had gotten up again and was looking in the direction that they had gone. "I wonder what they're talking about in there."
She found Lindir later that evening and they shared a walk through the gardens. She asked him if he knew who the elves were and why they had come. He nodded.
"Yes, they are from Lorien," he said. The sun was setting behind the trees and the sky glowed a rich violet. Bilbo was not far away 'sitting and thinking' as he often did.
"Why have they come?" she asked again, eagerly. Lindir wondered, as Bilbo had, why she was so interested in the visit. He hesitated before answering.
"They were sent by the Lady Galadriel," he told her. "They've come to ask Elrond for assistance in battle."
"What battle?" she asked, too quickly. "Lindir, what is going on?" He stopped walking and looked up. She followed his gaze, and the two watched as Earendil appeared in the sky above them. He sighed softly and looked down at her.
"The darkness is growing outside our realm," he said. "Our patrols have seen an increase in goblins and other fell creatures threatening the borders." He knelt in front of her. "Your brother's quest will end the war if it is achieved, but until then we must fight this growing evil ourselves." She looked at him, beginning to understand what he was saying. She wasn't sure she liked the way he had said 'if'.
"There is a great evil threatening the land of Rohan. We are the only hope Men have in defeating it. The Galadhrim are here to ask Elrond to send his army to help."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that I am going with them." She stared at him, in shock.
"You?" she looked into his dark eyes, searching for a different answer. "You're going?" He nodded solemnly. At once her excitement turned to fear. Wars are dangerous; she knew that as well as anyone. People die in wars. She looked back to Lindir in disbelief. She felt as if she were back in the Council chamber, and Frodo was taking the quest of the Ring all over again, and she was losing him. This time she was losing her best friend. She shook her head wordlessly, and Lindir looked at her sadly.
"I have to do this, Mel," he said. In her thoughts, she heard Frodo say the same words to her in his room months ago. She slowly shook her head. 'I'm losing them all,' she thought.
"I won't let this happen again," she said softly, so softly that he almost didn't hear her. He leaned in closer.
"Let what happen?" She was looking at the ground and he could see that she was involved in some sort of inner struggle. Emotions chased each other across her face until finally one took over. Determination. She looked into his eyes and what he saw there frightened him.
"I'm going with you," she said firmly. "I won't be left behind again."
"Mel, you're not going!" Lindir shouted. The two were making their way across the courtyard. After a quiet argument in the garden, Mel had decided to seek out the leader of the Galadhrim and ask to join their army. Lindir, understandably, was not happy about it.
The Galadhrim were speaking with Elrohir and Glorfindel and they looked up as she neared. She bowed politely before speaking.
"Suilad" she said. "Who is the leader here?" One of the elves stepped forward.
"My name is Haldir, how can I help you?"
"You can let me go with you to Rohan," she said bravely. Lindir caught up with her and took her arm.
"Mélanyë, no!" he said sternly. She shook him off and stared at Haldir. He looked to Lindir.
"I apologize, Haldir, she's a little upset," he explained. Mel turned and gave him a cold glare.
"Why would you want to go, little one?" Haldir asked. He had bowed slightly to look her in the eyes, and she saw that a few of the others seemed to be amused by the situation. A fierce uncontrollable anger surged through her at the thought of being patronized by these elves.
"I am not a child!" she cried. "Why can't you all see that?" She was looking at Lindir as she spoke and he seemed alarmed at her tone. Haldir straightened and looked to his kin. The smiles were quickly hidden. After a pause, Haldir continued.
"I don't think you're a child," he said. "Lindir is just concerned for you, and I must say I am too." He paused. "Have you ever been in a battle?"
"Yes," she answered hesitantly. Haldir nodded knowingly.
"And have you ever killed anyone?" Mel looked anxiously between Haldir and Elrohir, who was standing nearby watching the scene with crossed arms. He didn't seem thrilled with her new attitude either.
"N-no," she said, sensing some sort of trap in the question. Haldir knelt in front of her.
"Well, let me tell you that it's not an easy thing to do. It takes a lot of courage and training."
"Teach me- I can learn," she said eagerly. He smiled at her.
"I'm sure you can, but war has come swiftly upon the men of Rohan. We do not have the time to train a new soldier." Her face fell. He tipped her chin up with a finger.
"Mel," he said, "It's not worth it."
"Then why are you going?" she said coldly, not breaking eye contact. He stared at her for along time before finally standing and turning away. He spoke with Elrohir in a hushed tone. The two argued fervently for several minutes and then finally Elrohir came and led her away before she could object.
"But-"
"No Mel, please." He led her by the arm into the main house. When they were in her room he shut the door behind them.
"What was that?" he asked. She stared at him in confusion.
"I want to go-"
"You're not going, Mélanyë," he said firmly, leaving no room for argument. "You were not permitted to go with the Fellowship for the same reason. It's too dangerous. What would your mother say if she knew we let you go to your death?"
"I'm not going to die!" she cried.
"You will never survive a battle with Uruk-Hai!" She stepped back in fear as he raised his voice. "How long do you think you'll last against an enemy whose only purpose is to kill? You can barely hold a sword properly!"
"Bu-"
"No!" A heavy silence fell between them. His stare bored into her until she felt like the child he thought she was. At length he left her, closing the door behind him. She stood for a long time, staring silently at the door before throwing herself onto her bed in tears.
Early the next day the elves who would go with the Galadhrim were assembled in the main courtyard making ready to depart. Mélanyë stood beside Elrohir as she watched Lindir sling his bow onto his back. He saw her and walked over to her.
"I'm sorry, Mel," he said. Her eyes were red, and she was again very close to tears. He hugged her tight, and she clung to him as if she would never let go. He kissed her forehead and rose to join the others. She grasped his hand, unwilling to let go, and he squeezed it before losing her grip. The tears flowed down her face as she watched the proud company go, leaving her behind.