After watching the sky turn from a blood red, to deep velvet, Thealtuwen departed for her room. She was downhearted at the day turning to evening so quickly, but she returned to her bedchambers without a word. She sat upon her soft bed and began to gently brush her hair with her hands inslow, carefulstrokes. When she had finished her task she sighed.
Thealtuwen did not wish to give into the temptation of sleep, knowing what evil memories were in store. Visions a waiting only for her eyes to close to show themselves. Thealtuwen's eyes fluttered and they seemed to grow heavier but she resisted. The gentle rustle of the wind in the trees outside startled her.
"Elen?" A voice called from the entranceway. Thealtuwen turned around in fear, only to be calmed by the sight of Arwen's familiar face. Catching her breath,she placed a hand to her chest, taming her heartbeat.
"What is it, Galad?" Thealtuwen asked, forcing a smile
"My father requests your presence." Arwen said in a wavering voice. Thealtuwen raised a slender brow. Arwen's eyes, which were wide and frightful, were downward cast. Standing,she slowly made her way to Arwen's side. She was surprised when tears began to cascade down Arwen's face. Before Thealtuwen could utter a word of comfort, Arwen's arms were flung around Thealtuwen's neck, her face buried in the curve of Thealtuwen's shoulder. She could feel hot tears wetting her skin and she could hear Arwen's muffled cries. Thealtuwen raised her hand and tenderly began to stroke Arwen's hair.
"Mellon nin, why do you weep? Only moments ago you were filled with laughter." Thealtuwen said worriedly, wrapping her opposing arm around Arwen's shaking figure. Arwen silently gazed up into Thealtuwen's eyes. The look on her face made a short gasp escape Thealtuwen's lips. Arwen gently touched Thealtuwen's face with her slender hand, moving upward towards her hairline. There she began to trace the outline of Thealtuwen's face. Silently, Arwen took her hand and lead Thealtuwen to Lord Elrond's study.
Arwen's sudden outburst made Thealtuwen worried. She crossed the threshold of the narrow entranceway to Elrond's private library. Thealtuwen was so deep in thought, that she only noticed she was alone halfway down the long hallway. Thealtuwen turned round to see Arwen's sole silhouette standing in the archway. Thealtuwen outstretched her hand, so that Arwen may follow her, but she only shook her head.
"My father requests you to enter…alone." Arwen's voice was quiet as she uttered the word 'alone'. Thealtuwen watched Arwen as she faded from the frame of the doorway and out of sight. Thealtuwen turned forward, towards the second entrance. As she traveled through, the low, narrow hallway became an open library. The ceiling was no more, replaced with the endless night sky. Framing the large room were trees, their boughs draping over the walls like graceful arms.
The marble floors echoed Thealtuwen's footsteps. Many pillars rose up to meet the trees, ending in flowing, elvish designs, showingthe many fair buildings and forested areas of Rivendell. All around the vast room were small sets of stairs, each leading to small terraces with open artful archways, acting as a singular reading area with a table and chair. Lying upon them, were maps of Middle-Earth and her realms, books, looking glasses and globes.
Rising up in front of Thealtuwen, was a grand, winding staircase, leading to another open level, where there were what seemed to be millions of shelves of books. Thealtuwen climbed the staircase and wandered throughout the large bookcases. She took a manuscript and slid it from its place upon the shelf. Opening it with great care, the delicate, aging pages showed many drawings of weapons and stories of warfare. Thealtuwen replaced it and continued to gaze in awe at what she beheld. Never had she set foot in a place such as this in her life.
"Come closer, hún nín." A voice echoed. Thealtuwen followed the trail from whence the voice came. She came to a balcony, with a table, and two seats. In one, sat Lord Elrond. Thealtuwen crossed the entranceway and bowed her head graciously.
"Lord Elrond, I come summoned by Lady Arwen. What is your bidding?" Thealtuwen did not raise her eyes. There was a long silence, where Thealtuwen felt Elrond's eyes boring into her.
"Please, no formalities." He finally spoke, his voice deep and warm. Thealtuwen raised her eyes to meet Elrond's kind ones. "Indeed, I summoned you here this night. Come. Sit." Elrond gestured towards the second seat and Thealtuwen took it. Looking across the table at Elrond, he smiled warmly. But somewhere, in his gray eyes, Thealtuwen sensed a disturbance. Another long silence overcame the pair like a thick blanket. Before Thealtuwen could hold her tongue, the words spilled from her lips like a river that could not be stopped.
"Do not keep me from your reason why I am here. I know you summoned me in urgency and when you sent Arwen to retrieve me from my chambers, tears filled her eyes. I know this is no light matter. Please, excuse my being forward, Lord Elrond, but I must know." Thealtuwen was now pleading. Elrond's expression became dark and filled with the same emotion of Arwen's.
"I have seen them. I know you feel it as well, with these dreams you have. The Mirkwood elves draw ever closer. My forsight shows they seek to take you into their custody tomorrow night. You are no longer safe here. My trials of trying to give you freedom have failed." Elrond now leaned over the table. He took Thealtuwen's two hands in his and looked into her eyes. "You must run, leave here tonight." His stare was hard, yet not cold.
"But my lord, where shall I go?" Thealtuwen asked, the fear now evident in her voice. Where would she stay that was safe from harm? Elrond's eyes now shifted towards Thealtuwen's pendant.
"I have known of the secret you keep long before you arrived here. Go to the bearer of the other half. They shall help you. 'Seek the key that resembles the light that glows on the horizon in the east and west'." Elrond spoke in a whisper. Thealtuwen looked down at her breast, where her necklace hung, glittering in the starlight.
"Travel to the realm of men? But I shall not go unnoticed. I am not even sure that I exist in the memory of the other holder." Thealtuwen said.
"They shall know and so shall you. The bond between you two is strong. It is enough so that you both may find each other, for I sense a disturbance upon the other half as well." Elrond's eyes now turned upward towards the sky. Thealtuwen followed his gaze, surveying the many bursts of light. Thealtuwen looked downward again, seeing Elrond's eyes fixed upon Thealtuwen.
"What is it that you shall have me do, my lord?" Thealtuwen asked in a voice lower than a whisper. She feared the answer and the tension only heightened as yet a third heavy silence overcame them. Elrond's voice came slowly, as if the words that he spoke next pained him.
"With the stars as my witness, I now set you upon the task to go into hiding and to find the second bearer of your key. Perhaps you two may be able to relieve each other of your troubles." A look of sadness crossed Elrond's eyes. "You are not to return till your name is erased of all crime…even if you never commit it." At this Elrond let go of Thealtuwen's hands. Her eyes soon filled with tears. Somehow she saw this coming, but what she would be leaving behind…
"But…Arwen…you…" Thealtuwen shook her head. "I cannot leave here. This is the only home that I've known. The only home that I remembered or loved." Closing her eyes, she could feel the same warm, wet sensation of a single tear when Arwen wept upon her shoulder.
"This is difficult I know for you and for my daughter. I shall miss you greatly. It shall not be the same knowing that you are gone. But if there is any hope of you returning you must leave." Elrond said with honesty. Thealtuwen nodded her head biting her tongue so hard she thought she tasted blood.
"I shall obey, my lord." Thealtuwen said, tears now cascading from her eyes like shining waterfalls. Standing, she fled the extravagant room into the night, toward her bedchamber. There, her cries came from her throat, choking her breaths. Thealtuwen collapsed on the hard stone floor of her chamber. Why does this King of Mirkwood torment me so? Thealtuwen thought. There she lay with her tears becoming a pool of sadness beneath her…knowing that now, her nightmare had begun again.