The Undecided of Earendil
By- Larien
Chapter 4
A/N
-Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews. It means a lot to me.
Cilmesse- Seeing as though you appear a bit confused, I'll try to answer some of your questions to the best of my ability:
I never said Elros was there to meet Caniel; Never. In Ch. 2 Elrond says that Caniel was "to be raised by us in the ways of Middle Earth. Learning not only the ways of the elves with me, but also common knowledge. And Elros was to teach you in the ways of humans so that when this time came, you would be able to make your decision." Elrond never says that it ever happened, only that it WAS to happen. And when it talks about her being sent back to meet up with her brothers, her parents did not know if they were alive or not. Therefore, nothing in the story ever says that Elros was or is alive.
Okay, yes I realize that Earendil was a half blood, but when Caniel was born, he had already chosen the life as human and Elwing as Elf. Therefore her saying that her father was human isn't entirely inaccurate. So I don't believe it is fair of you to bash on things like, "being a Tolkien fanatic" and "reading all I can" because obviously I've read enough to know about the decisions made, even though I have yet to read EVERYTHING. If that's what you think I was saying, then you are sorely wrong. Had I read everything I would've said so. Don't presume so much.
Had you read the A/N before Ch. 2, it might explain things a bit more. Or had you read Ch. 2 more carefully, it would clear up a lot of things. Unlike, say Arwen, Caniel was born with a predominant human side to her. Yes, she lives longer, has the build of an elf, and still has some enhanced abilities, but she still has many traits that are human. Therefore they call her "human child" because of her likeliness to humans (which is almost more than her likeliness to elves.) One could attribute this to her parents; for she could have easily gotten more human blood then elvish blood. Tolkien never really explains genetics; therefore I'm allowed to presume what I wish in a fanfiction story.
I could tell you why she needs to make this decision now, but that would give away the whole story. Patience is a virtue, and there've been subtle hints such as Gandalf saying, "The Valar grows impatient." And all that will be explained later. As for confusing, I've gotten to three chapters! Give me some time to build a plot! As for the romance; it's there, live with it. It won't be the driving force (Legolas/OC or anything) but it will be there to add some twists and to keep an audience that follows Legolas romances. The thing with Fanfiction is getting an audience and that requires being creative with unheard of plots and giving them things that they want, i.e. Legolas.
Thanks for the message and let me know of further thoughts. Hopefully I've cleared up a few things and the story is less of a shame...
Morning came bright and early for Caniel, and she wasted no time living it once she was actually moving. But getting to that point was not easy, and many quiet minutes were instead spent lying on her back gazing at the ceiling. Warm rays of fresh morning light streaked her face, and cool gusts blew the sheer windowpanes and chilled her skin. Thoughts swirled through her mind; the decision, the coming day, but most vivid was the elf Legolas. Should she close her eyes and plunge herself into dark dreams she could not shake the feeling of his embrace. Delicate yet deliberate like the shell wrapped around the snail. It's so thin, so light, yet it has it's purpose there and with pride it says to all who approach; I protect. How was it that one embrace, one so simple in all manner and quite lazy, could plant so much into her thoughts?
Eventually she dressed, choosing a blue velvet dress that draped along her arms to her knees, and the train trailed behind her. The waist was tied with a silver beaded belt, giving the illusion of one stuck in with the stars. She felt dark, mysterious, and it showed. Upon looking, one could not discern her eyes from the silver stars dangling around the rich material that fit her so well. It was stunning, yet she cared not. Never did she give much for appearance; after all it was worth very little and to spend one's life worrying about it only blinded them to the true concerns, the true beauty elsewhere.
Stepping onto the balcony of her bay of houses, she scanned the dwelling smothered by a thin coat of fog. It lay delicately over all that rest, which at this time was most of Rivendell. Like a white sheet perfectly molded to furniture it lay, and yet it wove its way around her feet clearing a path as she descended the stairs. Ahead, she could not make out the trees that she was so accustomed to being greeted by each morning, save for the very desperate tops. Birds were not so chatty this morning, most keeping to themselves, afraid of disturbing the chilling peace. The doves, though, perched on their rails, also searching for the trees, as they hummed to themselves. A slow moaning in their throats that followed Caniel as she found her way to her brothers bay high on the cliff.
Upon arriving, she knocked delicately on the framed door before pushing the carved branches out of the way and stepping into her brother's home. She found him leaning on a rail over looking the back and when she approached, she sensed his deep meditation and chose instead to make herself comfortable while he let his mind wander. As she sat she played with a series of candles next to the chair she was rested upon. Letting her fingers swirl around and through the flame, she watched with mild amusement as it danced around, warming her skin and letting drip away the melted wax. Soft footsteps approached behind her and she turned to see the darker complexion of an elf, Arwen. Caniel smiled at the friend and stood to greet her.
"Am man theled gen sí?" Arwen asked as she embraced Caniel with a smile. (Why are you here?)
"I'm sorry, I came to talk to your brother, but he appears busy."
"Ce govannen hí veren an uir. Baren mar gîn." She replied indicating the chair as she sat across from it. (You are always welcome here. My home is your home.)
"Is anything new with you lately?" Caniel asked, taking a seat. "It has been a spell since I have last visited with you."
"Nothing new." Arwen sighed. "Not as the sun rises and sets each day. I dream of new happenings, of something interesting to cross my path, though none as far as the eye can see. What with you? Not often do I meet you this early to converse with my father."
"Decisions that need to be made. Questions that seek answers. All that Elrond is most good for." Caniel smiled. "He is a wise advisor, and it is a point now that I need is wisdom more then ever."
Arwen smiled, smoothing out the velvet of her yellow dress. " Would you care for something to eat? I imagine you did not yet dine this fair morning?"
Caniel shook her head. "I'm not hungry in flesh only in mind."
"I wish I knew what it is that troubles you, Caniel. It has been long since I've seen you in a state like this!"
"Ah, it is a state sung by the poets."
"So it is either love or death. You're eyes show dreary therefore it cannot be love. Death then? Do you come fumbling in here to proclaim yourself dying? Is that the world's new jest?"
They both shared a quiet laugh at this.
"But come now, if you're not to share this troubling let us forget it for a while. Let us take a walk like we used to and leave the troubles behind us. I'm sure we'll find something of amusement to last us the day." Arwen insisted, standing again.
"But what of Elrond? I need to speak with him." Caniel asked, casting a glance at her brother who was still frozen in his position.
"You will have time later. As for now, he is already lost in his own mind and from experience he will not find his way out for a while." She laughed, with a quieter voice. "Come, let us have some fun."
Caniel looked once more at Elrond then followed Arwen out the door. Outside the sun had indeed continued to rise and Caniel could not stop herself from inhaling a large amount of the morning air. Quietly she followed Arwen through a maze of steps and walkways. Nodding to some elves as the past, she heard Arwen singing quietly to herself as she led.
"A Bereth thar Ennui Aeair! Calad ammen i reniar mi 'aladhremmin ennorath." (O Queen beyond the Western Seas! O light to us that wander amid the tree-woven lands of Middle-earth.)
Caniel smiled as Arwen turned her head slightly, her song stopping in its tracks. Her dark eyes followed the shadow of her friend, awaiting the conclusion of the song. So Caniel sang,
"A Elbereth Gilthoniel! I chin a thûl lín míriel..."(O Elbereth Star-kindler! Your eyes and breath are like shining jewels...)
"It has been long since we've sung that together." Arwen laughed softly, rounding a corner.
"So it has. That was once our favorite song." Caniel agreed running her fingers over the fine engraving on the walls of the housing she passed. Its smooth surface ran under her fingers as would glass and when she looked up her eyes squinted at the reflected colors bouncing off the glass of a large building ahead. She had not been in this part of Rivendell many times before, for she did not know many of the people here. Though she did not fear it here, she did not neglect the slight prickling of uneasiness in the back of her mind. Perhaps it was only because she did not seem familiar here?
"Arwen, where are we going?" Caniel asked softly as started up a winding case of stairs in a corner. The building to which it wove was no larger then the other buildings, it only stood higher on the cliff. Branches of trees bounced their shadows off its many windows, causing a rather dim feeling. It was a feeling not often felt in the land of Rivendell.
"We are visiting a girl that resides here. Often I come by to check up on her, for she is unlike any I've met before."
"I do not understand."
"She, like yourself, is a half-blood residing under my father's care."
"That is not so unusual." Caniel said, somewhat defensively.
Arwen just eyed her when they arrived at the top. "She does not talk, Caniel. We do not know why. We can only presume it's because of tragedies she experienced early on in life."
"What happened to inflict so much pain upon her?" Caniel asked.
"She watched as her parents were burned along with their village from atop a horse." Arwen said sternly. "Wild men."
"From where?"
"We do not know. The few who survived the tragedy say they appeared as ghosts from the North. Some venture to say that they came from the lost realm of Arnor." Arwen shook her head sadly. "They disappeared after that, and we have not discerned yet who they are."
"That's horrible." Caniel said. "I cannot imagine living through such a happening. And she does not talk?"
"No." Arwen said. "I do not know of which she speaks- I can only guess it is the Westron tongue, for she seems to have taken to Aragorn."
"Aragorn knows of this?"
Arwen nodded. "Often he comes by to visit with her, for he once knew of her people. She at least acknowledges his presence. I often wonder if it is because they are both alone… I myself have often tried to talk to her, telling her I too am of mixed blood. But she does not seem to take to me the way she takes to him."
Caniel smiled sadly. "Aragorn has a way with people. Nay, with all things, it seems." She paused for a moment straining to see through the dimly lit windows. "Why have you brought me here?"
Arwen only shrugged. "Today is a day I often come by. And I thought it would interest you. For you, like Aragorn, have a way with people, and I had hoped that maybe she would open to you as well. But be warned- her appearance suffers for it has been long since she has come out into the daylight. Her mind and body dwell in darkness and sorrow. Father fears she dies from a broken heart."
"Has she chosen then?"
Arwen shook her head. "She is only young; a child in our eyes. And it is difficult to choose when one does not speak, though I venture not impossible. But it appears she has taken on many characteristics of the elves, so perhaps she has. It is difficult to say. But when she came, already Elrond sensed more elven blood in her then human."
Caniel nodded. "Let us go then. I much desire to speak with her, and be of what help I may."
-Sorry the chapter was rather short. I'll try to have the next one out soon, and it will be longer and more interesting, I promise! Ae al-dhambeth tôl o le; ú-narn tôl o nin! (If no review comes from you, no story comes from me!)