Chapter 32
((A/N: Dialogue in italics that are also in quotation marks symbolizes the use of the elven language Sindarin or Quenya EXCEPT for the calendar events.))
July 18th: Elizabeth and the company of Rivendell and Lothlorien elves set out for Lothlorien. Among them is Elrond, Elrohir, Elladan, Haldir, Celeborn, and Galadriel. They are met in Lothlorien by Haldir's two brothers, Rumil and Orophin.
"Hail, Lady of Light!" a voice called out. "Fair greetings to you and your lord and the company you ride with."
"Hannon le, Rumil," Galadriel answered. "We have need of the Mourning Hall."
Rumil seemed taken aback by this request. "Has someone passed, my lady?"
"Yes, a prince of whose origin you know not. Have the hall prepared as soon as possible." The Lady commanded.
"My lady?" Elrohir questioned.
"I believe a proper farewell ceremony will lighten Elizabeth's heart." Galadriel answered. "We have not properly said goodbye to Prince Keshavan."
Haldir could feel Elizabeth stiffen in his arms. She still was at unease when that topic of conversation came up. Haldir felt someone watching them. He looked at Galadriel and found that it was she who watched them.
"Are you sure you want this, Elizabeth?" Haldir asked softly. He felt her nod facedown on his shoulder.
He looked back to the Lady of Light and firmly nodded to her. The company walked over a few more walkways and up a few more stairs until they reached a room that held the scent of solitude.
Galadriel spoke in elvish to the Valar:
"We of Rivendell and Lorien gather here to mourn for Prince Keshavan who has left us. We ask the Valar that they would allow his dear friend Elizabeth to speak to him when she crosses into the Undying Lands."
Elizabeth kept her head bowed as she wept silent tears. She felt a reassuring hand around her pull her closer. She looked up at the one that held her and then back to the ground. Had she made the right choice when allowing this elf to adopt her?
The ceremony lasted a few more minutes and then one by one, the elves left to their rooms until only Elizabeth was left with Haldir standing watch in the shadows. He wanted to give her as much privacy as possible.
"I wanna go to bed, Haldir." Elizabeth said, her voice etched with grief.
"All right," Haldir said simply. He scooped her into his arms and carried her into her room. But it was a long walk.
"Haldir," Elizabeth said while the Marchwarden carried her. "when we have the ceremony for Elrond to adopt me, can you be my brother?"
Part of Haldir was immediately saying yes, relieved that she still thought of him as family. But part of him was hesitant to tie himself to Rivendell so tightly. And although that part was more powerful, he agreed immediately.
"Of course," he said, hiding his great joy and masking it with pure simplicity. "I would never reject you, Elizabeth."
August 14th: Elrond, Elizabeth, Elladan and Elrohir return to Rivendell. There, Elizabeth begins her lessons on how to live as one that cannot see.
August 18th: Gandalf arrives and aids Elrond and Erestor in teaching Elizabeth. They tell her how much she needs to know before the ceremony of family union.
September 13th: Coincidentally a Friday. Haldir, Celeborn, Galadriel, Rumil and Orophin arrive at Rivendell for the family union ceremony.
September 14th: The day of the ceremony. Queen Arwen and King Aragorn arrive take part in the ceremony.
Elizabeth stood, wearing an elegant, light green summer, elven gown with a beautiful head piece almost exactly like Arwen's. Gandalf stood before her. Elrond, Elladan, Elrohir, Arwen and Aragorn stood on Elizabeth's right, while Haldir, Rumil, Orophin stood on her left.
Gandalf cleared his throat.
"Do you, Lord Elrond, head of your house, agree to take young Miss Elizabeth as one of your own children?" Gandalf asked.
"I do." Elrond answered seriously.
"Do you agree to love her and treat her with the respect and love that a human child needs?" Gandalf asked.
Elrond nodded.
"Do you agree to sacrifice what you can for her life if it is ever in danger? Do you understand her special needs because of disabilities and certain powers?"
Elrond nodded. "I do."
"Do you accept the Lothlorien Marchwarden Lords Rumil, Orophin and Haldir as sons through Elizabeth?" Gandalf asked.
Elrond glanced at his children who all nodded in turn. "Yes, we all do."
Gandalf turned to Elizabeth. "Do you, child, promise to live under the elven laws of the house of Elrond? Do you understand the bond made by this ceremony?"
Elizabeth nodded. "Uh-huh."
Gandalf smiled down at the beautiful young girl before him. "Join hands, then, my friends."
He started with Haldir and moved down the row of beings, pouring a sweet smelling ointment onto each of their foreheads and then giving them a ring. Once Elizabeth had received hers, she felt it carefully with her left hand, creating an image in her mind.
The ring was mithril and was a simple band on the bottom, but on the top it was beautiful. The ring wasn't a complete circle. It was two wings that were facing the other so that the ring would stay on. It was lovely in Elizabeth's mind.
"Stand, friends," Gandalf said. "Stand and be as one united family."
They stood, and Elizabeth smiled. She felt at peace for the first time.
October 6th: Elizabeth experiences the first return of pain on the eve of she and Frodo being stabbed on Weathertop. Her pain lasts all day and the scar shows once more. Her new family stays with her throughout the day.
October 24th: Elizabeth turns nine. With a newly added age, Elrond awards Elizabeth with Arwen's old horse, Asfoloth. Elizabeth is quite used to being blind now and thinks of her real parents less and less. She begins to speak more in Sindarin and Quenya.
3020
March 2nd: Elizabeth falls from Asfoloth and breaks her arm. Elizabeth is not allowed to ride for two months.
October 6th: Elizabeth feels pain again and is bedridden for two days.
October 24th: Elizabeth turns 10. Her brothers begin teaching her how to use different weapons.
December 25th: Christmas Day. Elizabeth is given several useful gifts. Haldir gives her a long elven sword that is much like his own. Elrohir gives her an elven bow, elven arrows and an elven quiver. Elladan gives her two elven daggers. Rumil and Orophin, being as funny as possible, give her a Dwarven ax that they acquired from Gimli. Elrond gives Elizabeth a shirt of mithril, very similar to Frodo's.
3021
April 14th: Elizabeth begins having dreams of the Undying Lands. She consults her grandmother, her father and Gandalf. By this time, at the wonderful age of 10, she is as mature as an elven child ofher age.
September 1st: Elizabeth yearns for the sea.
Elizabeth knocked on the door to her father's study.
"Yes?" Elrond voiced his usual reply.
"It is I, Ada" Elizabeth said smoothly, in elvish. She had learned almost two years ago.
"Enter child." Elrond said. He stopped whatever he had been working on and smiled upon his daughter. "What have you been doing?"
"Reading with Erestor."Elizabeth said smoothly in elvish. Her years in Rivendell had aided her in perfecting the elvish languages.
Elrond sensed that his daughter wanted something from him.
"What is it, Elizabeth?" he asked.
"Ada, I've been having dreams."
Elrond frowned. "Dreams?"
Elizabeth nodded.
"And what are these dreams about?" Elrond asked.
"The Grey Havens that I keep hearing about in the books that Erestor reads to me. And the sea and the white gulls. They're so beautiful, Ada, why can't we go to them?
"Just once, Ada, and then, I promise we can come back." Elizabeth promised. Elrond smiled and held out his hand.
"Come here."
Elizabeth, upon hearing his voice, could immediately tell where her father was. She went to him and allowed him to lift her into his lap.
"You know as well as I do that once we go to the harbor, there is no going back. The pull there is too strong and it is not yet time for us to leave." Elrond said.
The elf lord could see disappointment in his daughter's face. He embraced her tightly and planted a single kiss on her forehead.
"We will go soon, I promise." He said. "But not now. Now is not the time."
Elizabeth walked out of her father's study and heard someone sigh loudly.
"So…?" the male voice asked. Elizabeth recognized the voice as Erestor's. "What did he say?"
Elizabeth sighed. "You were right. He said soon, but not now."
"HA! You owe me a week of library chores, my favorite little friend!" Erestor exclaimed happily. "Now I can finally relax!"
"For your information, I am not 'little'." Elizabeth said haughtily. "And I never agreed to the bet anyhow. I just said I'd ask him for you!"
"Yes you did. Do not try to back out, little one." Erestor teased.
"What's all that racket being caused by?" a voice asked.
"Haldir," Elizabeth said exasperatedly. "Erestor says that I agreed to take a week's worth of library tasks from him (which I didn't) if he was right about something we asked my father. Tell him that I shouldn't have to do anything."
"She did agree to the bet, Haldir; do not listen to a word she is saying!" Erestor argued.
"Why don't I just take the week's worth of tasks?" Haldir asked calmly.
"I suppose you could…" Erestor said. "I really do not care who takes the chores. I just want some time to myself!"
"Well, you've got it now. Happy?" Elizabeth asked sarcastically.
"Yes, thank you." Erestor answered, equally sarcastic.
Elizabeth shook her head and decided to go to the stables to visit Asfoloth. She walked along the walls feeling each detail so that she was sure she was heading in the right direction.
When she entered the stables, Asfoloth neighed to her.
"Good day, Asfoloth." Elizabeth greeted. "How do you fare this afternoon? Good, I hope."
The horse whinnied in verification. Elizabeth reached out to pet its back carefully.
Gandalf rode through the gates of Rivendell and dismounted. When an elf came forward to take Shadowfax, the wizard held up a hand to stop him. He wanted to take Shadowfax to the stables himself today.
Gandalf entered the first stable building and led Shadowfax into a stall. After taking off the mount and girdle across the horse's face, Gandalf began to head towards Elrond's home, but stopped when something caught his eye in the next stable building.
He turned around and entered the second building and smiled at what he saw. He leaned against the post of the building and watched his dear friend as she interacted with Asfoloth.
Elizabeth was braiding every strand of Asfoloth's mane, twisting the beautiful, thick hair into knots that she commonly used in her own hair. To show its thankfulness, the horse nuzzled its nose against Elizabeth's face.
"Hannon le, Asfoloth." Elizabeth said, laughing at her horse's actions. Suddenly, Asfoloth snorted in warning.
Gandalf watched as Elizabeth stiffened.
"What's wrong, Asfoloth?" she asked.
The horse whinnied loudly. It reared up. Time slowed down. A streak of white garment flashed as Gandalf rushed towards Elizabeth to take her out of harm's way. If Asfoloth accidentally hurt her with his hooves, she'd never trust him again.
They landed on the ground and Elizabeth immediately started struggling.
"Let me go! Let me go!" She yelled, mixing both common tongue and elvish. Gandalf covered her mouth.
"Elizabeth." He said simply. Elizabeth immediately relaxed and took a deep breath, calming herself.
"Gandalf, you scared me. What were you thinking, grabbing me like a kidnapper?" Elizabeth asked.
"Asfoloth reared up and would have hit you when he landed." Gandalf answered. "I did not want you to be harmed."
"You worry too much for my sake, Gandalf." Elizabeth said. "Your hair will fall out if you worry much more. But thank you. Without your help, I might have had a concussion. And you and I both know that my father would spend more time than needed with me if I was injured."
Gandalf nodded knowingly. Elrond did not enjoy losing his children.
"Come, Elizabeth, Lord Elrond will be wondering if you have run away." Gandalf said, helping Elizabeth to her feet. "Besides, I'm hungry."
Elizabeth laughed and playfully shoved Gandalf away from her. "You are becoming very demanding with your age."
"It must run in the family. Saruman became quite demanding when he was my age. In fact, I hear he started employing goblins." Gandalf teased.
Elizabeth laughed, her eyes glowing with happiness. Gandalf imagined that they were not only filled with happiness, but with sight. He shook away the thought. Most of Elizabeth's friends had gotten used to the fact that she could no longer see.
And most had lost hope that she would ever regain her sight. But Gandalf maintained his hope that Elizabeth would see again. He could still see the young girl running circles in flower filled meadows. He could see her beautiful smile that had disappeared with her sight. Without her beautiful eyes to lighten up the world, Elizabeth's one-of-a-kind smiles didn't exist. Instead, only wistful, nostalgic smiles came to Elizabeth's face when she was slightly amused or cheered by words.
She could no longer see the beauty of a flower blooming, nor the morning dewdrops on the grass.
Her world was dark.
September 22nd: Lord Elrond announces those who remain in Rivendell that everyone is to pack all their belongings that cannot be left behind. They are leaving Rivendell for the Grey Havens.
Asfoloth shook his great, majestic head and shook off the last dewdrop that had fallen onto his face. But Elizabeth could not care less. She was finally calming the storm in her heart. For weeks she had suffered as she waited for her father to announce that all were leaving for the Grey Havens. Not long into their journey, their company had met up with the four hobbits, Gandalf and Bilbo. They too were on their way to the Grey Havens to say farewell to Gandalf and Bilbo.
Although she could not see the look in his eyes, Elizabeth sensed that Frodo was leaving something behind as well. His heart was heavily burdened and she knew he felt an urge to go to the sea. And Elizabeth knew this was true, no doubt about it, as she heard the four hobbits help Bilbo towards the Harbor.
She dismounted and her heart almost broke. She realized suddenly that her dear, dear friends would not be making the journey with her. How could she leave them forever? Elizabeth knew that Legolas would come soon after, but the thought of leaving Aragorn and Arwen behind…
How would she, how could she bear it? Faramir, Eowyn, King Théoden, Merry, Pippin, Sam, Aragorn, Arwen, Gimli. The list went on. How could she just say goodbye to them and never see them again? If only Middle Earth had telephones…
Elizabeth stood with her grandparents. Galadriel was always distant because she was a ring bearer. But Celeborn had always enjoyed spending time with his granddaughter.
She heard Bilbo gasp out loud in amazement of how beautiful the harbor was. Elizabeth's heart panged. She longed to see the beauty.
'Very well…you have waited long enough for your sight…may some of it return to you…' a voice said to Elizabeth in her mind.
"Manwe?" she asked out loud. Celeborn's hand immediately was on Elizabeth's arm to support her.
"What is it?" Celeborn asked gently in elvish, coming around from behind Elizabeth and watching her facial reactions.
Elizabeth wasn't sure, but…could it be? Could Manwe have restored her sight to her? There was a faint outline before her. She couldn't exactly tell what it was. She reached out to it.
Ignoring the two next to her, Galadriel spoke.
"The time of the Three Rings is ended. The time has come for the dominion of Men." She said, smiling slightly.
"I Aear cân ven na mar (The Sea calls us home)." Elrond said.
He held out his hands for Bilbo and then guided him onto the ship. Celeborn was still watching his granddaughter as she touched his forehead. It was if she were seeing it for the first time. His eyes widened.
"My little one," he said, and not wanting to disappoint her if he was wrong, he continued, "What is it?"
"I can see something here. An outline of your head. But it's very dim." Elizabeth replied.
At those words, Celeborn gasped and smiled at the same time. All who remained looked at him strangely.
"My granddaughter is regaining her sight!" he exclaimed.
Haldir and the other elves that had already boarded the ship could not hear, but those still on land were overjoyed.
"I will relay this wonderful news to King Elessar and Queen Arwen!" Pippin exclaimed. "They shall be overjoyed to hear of it!"
"I will come as well!" Merry said, excited. "And so can Frodo!"
At this, Frodo's small smile faded. He looked at his shoes after glancing at Gandalf.
"You will come, won't you?" Merry asked, noticing that something was wrong.
Frodo looked at his friend with pity. "Oh, Merry."
Sam and Pippin suddenly began to catch on. Gandalf was standing before them and was just standing there, being awfully quiet.
"Frodo?" Sam asked. "You're not…you can't…you aren't leaving are you?"
"I'm afraid I am, my dear Sam." Frodo said. He handed his big red book to him. "The last pages are for you. To write whatever you wish in them."
"Frodo…" Sam started, but trailed off due to tears.
Celeborn decided that the hobbits needed their farewell time and motioned to Gandalf to help Elizabeth over to them to say goodbye also.
"Namarie, mellon nin." Elizabeth said. "I shall miss you all."
"You take care of Mister Frodo for me, Miss Elizabeth." Sam said, his eyes teary.
Frodo and Elizabeth tearfully exchanged hugs and farewells before Gandalf helped them onto the ship. Elizabeth's heart was torn into two. She would never see them again.
She sat down and Celeborn came to her immediately. "Elizabeth, can you see anything?"
All conversation in the boat ceased immediately.
"I can see the outline of your head and something over there in the corner." Elizabeth said.
Celeborn glanced behind him. "That is Asfoloth, your horse."
"Elizabeth has regained her sight?" Haldir asked.
"Yes, she has." Celeborn answered. "We must ask the Valar what to do when we arrive. For now, all we can do is hope that her sight will return quickly."
Elizabeth, who had sat down next to her father, sighed deeply, but happily. She felt her father draw an arm around her and pull her close to him. Elizabeth happily fell into the embrace and allowed herself to fall into dream-filled slumber.
((Author's Note: For those of you who are angry at me for taking so long to update, know this: I have completed this story and am posting the last three chapters one by one. Please review so I can get an idea of how many people read my story and TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK SHOULD HAPPEN IN THE SEQUEL! THANKS!
Music is my Muse))