Chapter 8

That night, there was a feast in honor of the Fellowship being formed. Elizabeth sat in between Bilbo and Gandalf, feeling very small and very hungry.

Elizabeth jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder that she felt didn't belong to either Bilbo, or Gandalf.

Elizabeth turned her head quickly, almost hitting the elf lord in the face with her hair.

Elrond just blinked and raised an eyebrow, causing Elizabeth to smile sheepishly at the elf lord.

"Would you care to join me, Miss Elizabeth, in getting something to drink? There are many people who'd like to meet you." The elf lord asked.

"Ok. Be right back, guys." Elizabeth said to Gandalf and Bilbo, and then hopped off her chair. She took Elrond's offered hand and held it firm, wondering just how many people wanted to meet her.

Elrond took Elizabeth over to the drinks table and named off all of the elvish drinks that didn't have alcohol in them.

"Elrond?"

Elrond looked down at Elizabeth questioningly.

"When do I get to go home and see my mommy and daddy again?" Elizabeth asked. Elrond's heart was in his throat. The look of hope on Elizabeth's face was priceless; how could he tell her the truth?

"Elizabeth," he began slowly. "I do not know if you will be able to return home.

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked quietly, in such an innocent way that it almost broke Elrond's heart to see such sadness flood her features.

Elizabeth's eyes followed the elf lord as he kneeled down in front of her so that he was eye level with her.

"You must understand, Elizabeth, you are the very first that has been brought here from another time period. Gandalf, nor I know if the Valar brought you here or if it was an accident that happened. And seeing as we do not know, nor would understand how you arrived here, we do not know how to send you back." Elrond explained.

For an eight year old, Elizabeth took this news quite well in Elrond's point of view. But he realized why the young girl had hope when he heard her next words.

"Galadriel will know, won't she?" Elizabeth asked hopefully. Elrond said nothing. He only put a reassuring hand on Elizabeth's shoulder and stood to his full height.

"What would you like to drink, Elizabeth?" the elf lord asked, changing the subject.

Elizabeth ended up choosing apple juice and just as she turned around to go back to her seat, five people were looming over her. Elizabeth looked up at the very tall people and almost dropped her cup of apple juice, but caught it with her other hand.

"Good evening my lord." One said. "We were wondering if this was a good time to introduce ourselves to Lady Elizabeth."

"Of course, Legolas." Elrond said. "Elizabeth, this is Prince Legolas of Mirkwood, Elladan and Elrohir (my sons), Gimli, and Lord Glorfindel."

"Hi." Elizabeth said, dumbfounded that so many people would want to meet her.

"You are a pretty little thing, aren't you?" Elladan, or was it Elrohir said.

"Thank you." Elizabeth said shyly.

"So you agree with us then?" the other twin asked. "You think you're pretty?"

"Um…" Elizabeth trailed off and allowed Elrond to speak up.

"Boys," Elrond said in a warning tone. "Do you want dish duty in the kitchens with Glorfindel watching you?"

"Please don't make me watch them Elrond. You know it disturbs me as much as it disturbs them." Glorfindel pleaded. "And the way they wash the dishes and describe every waking moment of it to me…it's sickening. Why don't you make them sort books with Erestor?"

"Because, we did that last time." One of the twins said, smiling.

"And you know how much we love spending time with Unkie Glorfindel." The other twin said.

Glorfindel rolled his eyes and squat down in front of Elizabeth so that he matched her height.

"See what I mean? They're nightmares, the both of them." He said. Glorfindel stood back up and gave the twins a 'ha ha can't get me now' look.

"Ok you two, say goodnight to Elizabeth and then get out of my sights. You first Elladan." Elrond ordered.

"I'm not Elladan, he is. Honestly elf. And you call yourself our father." The twin known as Elrohir said.

"My apologies, Elrohir." Elrond said. "Now say goodnight and leave."

"Bye, 'Lizbeth." Elrohir said, causing Elizabeth to giggle. Elrohir walked around the corner. Elladan stepped forward.

Suddenly, Elrohir stuck his head around the corner.

"Only joking, I am Elladan!" he announced and then disappeared around the corner once again.

The real Elrohir shook his head.

"Honestly, sometimes I wonder if I'm really related to that elf." He said. "Goodnight Lady Elizabeth. I hope to see you again sometime."

"Ditto." Elizabeth said smartly.

"I won't pretend to know what that word means, but I shall ask you the next time we meet." Elrohir said. "I would ask you now but I don't want dish duty. Goodnight."

And that said, Elrohir stood and disappeared around the same corner his brother had.

"It seems that Prince Legolas, Elrond and I have the pleasure of having you all to ourselves." Glorfindel said, sighing happily.

"Perhaps not myself, Glorfindel. I need to make sure those boys aren't causing trouble. I'll see you later Elizabeth." Elrond said, and then he too disappeared around the same corner.

"I stand corrected." Glorfindel said. "It seems that Legolas and I are the only ones who get you to ourselves."

"I wanna go outside." Elizabeth said suddenly.

Legolas blinked, uncomfortable with the situation. He had no experience with handling children.

"The gardens are this way, my lady. If you would follow me, I can show you." Glorfindel said. Elizabeth followed Legolas out to the gardens with Legolas.

The three of them sat near a pond under a tree, talking about the different stars.

"Which one is that?" Elizabeth asked, pointing to a beautiful star.

"That one?" Glorfindel asked. "Why that star represents Lady Tinúviel and her true mortal love."

"Wow…" Elizabeth said in awe. "Glorfindel?"

"Yes Elizabeth?"

"It's--YAWN--pretty out here." Elizabeth said.

"You are very accurate. Perhaps I should escort you to your room. You seem tired." Glorfindel offered. But Elizabeth shook her head.

"I'm not tired. YAWN I'm just yawning for no good reason." Elizabeth said, snuggling closer to the tree trunk and laying her head on the grass.

"See that one?" Glorfindel asked. "Lady Elizabeth? Elizabeth? Oh."

Elizabeth had fallen asleep against the tree trunk. Legolas smiled silently at the small girl and returned his gaze to the stars.

"Is it not amazing how a child as powerful as this one becomes tired so easily?" Glorfindel asked, watching Elizabeth's sleeping face.

When Legolas didn't answer, Glorfindel glanced up at him. "Prince?"

Legolas stared down at the small child. "She comes off as courageous, yet her face holds a child's fear."

Glorfindel stared at Legolas at a loss for words, confused. "You've seen this girl before?"

"Aye. In the dream a voice spoke to me." Legolas said. "The voice told me that a small one would seek my aid and I would choose to help her. I believe that Lady Elizabeth is the small one who is to seek my aid."

"You will make the correct choice, Legolas. You know that. And now we must make a choice." Glorfindel said.

Legolas frowned. "And that is…?"

"To wait for Gandalf to become angry at how we let Elizabeth fall asleep outside or to take her to her room." Glorfindel answered.

"Ah. Perhaps we should take the secondary option." Legolas said, smiling lightly.

Glorfindel nodded in agreement, standing up with Elizabeth in his arms. "You need not come with me, Legolas. Elizabeth is not the only one who needs their sleep."

Legolas bowed. "Thank you, my lord. I shall see you in the morning."

Glorfindel bowed his head slightly for respect and carried Elizabeth down the corridor to her room where he tucked her in. Before leaving Glorfindel watched her sleeping form momentarily.

"Take care, little one. If I am destined to meet you once more, I hope you fair well." Glorfindel whispered, before shutting her door behind him.

As Glorfindel walked exhaustedly back through the corridor and towards is own room, he noticed Gandalf looking about the dining hall worriedly.

"Gandalf?" he asked. The wizard looked up and immediately came to Glorfindel's side.

"Where is Elizabeth?" he asked.

"In bed, Gandalf, in bed. You need not worry over her. She fairs well." Glorfindel calmed the wizard.

"Not if Sauron can help it. He knows about her. And I'm not sure if her body can take much toil and suffering." Gandalf said, sitting down with Glorfindel at the long dining table.

"Suffering?" Glorfindel repeated. "Gandalf, is there something you are not telling Lord Elrond?"

Gandalf looked into Glorfindel's eyes momentarily and then looked away.

"You know she is powerful, correct?" he asked. Glorfindel nodded. "She is more powerful than anyone believes. Sauron will take one look at her and deny the fact that she is more powerful than he."

Glorfindel frowned. "Exactly how powerful is she?"

"Not very powerful yet, because she's just discovering how to use it. She will learn when we leave her in Lorien. The Lady will teach her." Gandalf answered. "But I worry for her mind. Her safety. Her heart and most of all her soul."

Glorfindel remained silent.

"If she endures the entire quest, she could come out a changed child. We know her now as the happy, vibrant little girl that melts our hearts and is so innocent that most people love her. I worry that she will cease her happy vibrant personality. I worry that she will become a mute or afraid of everything around her. But one thing is certain. This quest will impact her soul, mind and body." Gandalf finished.

"But you will be there to help her won't you?" Glorfindel asked.

Gandalf looked Glorfindel strait in the eyes and immediately the elf lord understood.

"For most of it. But Frodo will not see me until the quest is over from a certain point. I will meet Elizabeth not too far after it happens." Gandalf answered.

"I suppose you have told the members of the Fellowship to take care of her no matter what happens, correct?" Glorfindel asked softly, knowing that the subject at hand was a delicate one. He too had died once before and come back.

"Well, most of them. The Hobbits automatically are drawn to protect her since they came so far with her already. The same is with Aragorn. Legolas will feel that it is his duty to protect her, but I told Aragorn to keep her away from Boromir. And Gimli will be nothing more than friendly and give her battle tips." Gandalf explained.

"Her heart will break, Gandalf. You do know that, don't you?" Glorfindel asked.

Gandalf nodded and sighed. He laid a hand on Glorfindel's shoulder and stood from his seat.

"I think we have dwelt on this subject far too long. And we both require sleep. Good night, Glorfindel." Gandalf said, leaving.

"Same to you, Mithrandir."

((A/N: what do you think Glorfindel would give to Elizabeth for a Christmas present? It has to be something she'll need in Lothlorien, but not on the way to Lothlorien. What should it be?))