Chapter 2

As Elenisil moved away from Frodo towards Arwen and a couple of other Elves of Rivendelle, the members of the group all moved toward Frodo who still stood frozen in the center of the room. Putting their weapons away once more nine of the now ten members stood around each other. Gimli was the first to break the silence "Well Lad are you ok?" He asked concerned for the Hobbit. Frodo, whose sight was still glazed over from the encounter, nodded quickly while blinking the daze from his eyes. Sam, Merry, and Pippin surrounded their friend laying a hand on him to reassure him of their presence. "I'm fine, really I am." He said calming his friends. "You looked like you were under a spell." Sam stated as he continued to look over Frodo. "At first I think I was..." Frodo trailed.

Elenisil left the room with Arwen her long billowing cloak the last thing the others saw before she finally disappeared from the room. Gandalf waited until then to make his way over to Lord Elrond who glared at the gray wizard who was storming toward him with a scowl plastered upon his face. "What is the meaning of this?" Gandalf grated out trying to be as hushed as he could as to not raise the alarm, but it was too late. Lord Elrond looked past the irate wizard to the rest of the room. "Gandalf would you please accompany me. It seems we have much to discuss." Elrond led his old friend into a private room devoid from prying ears who did not need to know the particulars, excusing the remaining dazed and confused members of the fellowship to entertain themselves.

In the room stood the annoyed wizard and the old Elf, Gandalf was the first to break the newly formed veil of silence. "What were you thinking!? Asking her here. She'll put the group in more danger than not." The wizard said all the while advancing towards the Elf. Lord Elrond merely stood, waiting while Gandalf ranted, lids at half mast. "We will all have enough danger to contend with without having to add one as unpredictable as her into the midst." When he was within a mere foot of his host Gandalf stopped looked into his eyes and continued his words jumbled with confusion and concern, " I do not know how Lord Elrond, house of Rivendelle, ever befriended a beast as dangerous and blood thirsty as that thing!.." Before Gandalf could finish Lord Elrond' eyes flew open in disbelief and the already standing Elf stood up straighter and his once relaxed eyes tightened and sharply focused on Gandalf' mere inches from his own. "THAT IS ENOUGH!" He boomed as his neck stretched and a small vein began to pulse showing his anger. "You have no right to say such things about her. You do not even know her."

"I know enough," Gandalf interrupted curtly, "I know of what happened all those years ago up in the Trollshaws, how many men she killed..." Lord Elrond's voice cut off his misguided friend his own voice sharper than the edge of a sword and just as hard "You had not even arrived yet at that time mithrandir... You know nothing other than what foolish old men wrote in their dusty old journals twisting what actually happened into their own versions and creating half truths." Lord Elrond's voice softened and his eyes became lost in his memory. "I was there nearly 4,000 years ago," He continued. "I saw the injustice of men that night. Their greed and lust for power lead them to try and capture her, force her into submission when she was at her weakest on the Second Blue Moon of the year. They thought they had to do it then or not get the chance for another 25 years, and each one of them paid for their mistake." Lord Elrond turned away and slowly walked to the large chair sitting next to the long ornate table before sitting and placing his fingers between his brows. Gandalf was silent watching his old friend looking exhausted before taking a seat of his own across from him. "I am sorry Gandalf. I know it must be confusing for you. I know what those old men wrote down, their gnarled perceptions about what happened, but believe me her powers will help." Sitting back up straight Lord Elrond returned his gaze to the old wizard, "She will be a valuable member of the fellowship. No matter what her form."

Gandalf's shoulders slumped forward in defeat, "I still do not like it, and I shall be keeping my eyes and senses on her at all times, but if you defend her this vehemently then you must truly trust her." Elrond let a small smile spread across his face lightening his mood further "I do," her replied, "She has save me on multiple occasions."

Down below the room occupied by the wizard and Lord of the Lands each of the new members of the fellowship were enjoying their time getting to know each other, except for Elenisil who was no where to be found. After a short discussion with Boramir about the state of affairs in Gondor and listening to Gimli discuss all array of matters with the four halflings Aragorn stood and strode over to Legolas leaving the tables of food and drink. He joined his friend at the far side of the great room, "Have you heard of her before?" The Ranger asked his friend, sitting down on the bench next to the Elf. "I haven't," Legolas stated plainly, confusion visible on his face. "I am also unsure as to who to trust. Gandalf seemed so worried and desperate while Lord Elrond calm and assured." The fair elf sat in contemplation. Never before had he seen a creature with so much power, he could feel it, raw and pulsating through the air like ripples over still water. "She is not elfin?" Aragorn both stated and asked lightly rubbing his hands together. "No, and I do not think that what we saw today is her true form. Whatever she is, she is good at hiding." Brows furrowing in thought Legolas stared for a moment at the floor before him when suddenly he looked up eyes open once more. "Where is Arwen?" He asked Aragorn a spark of wonder in his tone. Aragorn's eyes met Legolas' as they both stood at the same time and made their way out the door.

It was well past sunset when Aragorn and Legolas made their way on foot down the walk away from the main paths of Rivendelle and into the surrounding forest. Aragorn had looked for Arwen in her rooms, but to no avail. After asking a few residents where he could find her they were on their way to the small clearing close to the entrance of the city. Ahead of them the two could see a bright fire glowing amongst the trees and stone pillars of the garden. Stopping just before the clearing Aragorn and Legolas could see through the tangled boughs of the trees and into the court. On the far edge of the clearing sitting on a carved stone seat was Elenisil bathed in the cloud filtered light of a full moon and array of stars. Her skin seemed to glow silver beneath the cool light, her long black hair draped behind her darker than the night itself. The fine black cloak she wore earlier cascaded down her shoulders and pooled about her hiding the rest of her body reflecting the orange glow of the campfire. Next to her sat Arwen her own pale beauty radiating under the night glow and the fire light. About them were another half dozen Elves all talking and enjoying each others company. Before Legolas and Aragorn could take another step and enter into the garden Elenisil turned her eyes pinpointing their exact location even through the trees thick limbs and the darkness under their canopy.

Arwen's eyes followed Elenisils, finally landing upon her love and their mutual friend as they broke from the cover of the trees and into the garden. A huge smile warmed her face as she made her way over to Aragorn leaving Elenisil alone on the bench. "I was wondering if you would be coming," Arwen said as Aragorn took her hands into his own confessing, "It took us some time to find you." Legolas smiled warmly to Arwen and looked between her and Elenisil still sitting across the garden " Aragorn and I hoped we could speak with you." Noticing his eyes wandering Arwen turned and led the two males over to the bench she had been occupying. "If you have any questions just come and ask them yourselves, do not be afraid of your new companion." She said softly. With each step they took Aragorn and Legolas felt as if they were wading deeper and deeper into the pool of power that was surrounding the creature still seated on the bench. When they were with in a few feet of the alabaster bench Arwen spoke and introduced them. "Elenisil, this is Aragorn," she said as she lightly squeezed her loves hand then motioned to their friend, "and Legolas." Slowly closing her steel blue eyes Elenisil slightly bowed her head before turning her gaze back towards the still brightly burning fire, seemingly lost in the twirling of the flames. It was then that Legolas realized how hard it was to remove his gaze from the creature sitting stoically and as still as if she were not but a statue before him. "We are just out here enjoying the beautiful moon, the clouds should be clearing soon." Arwen said looking up at the silver body suspended in the inky black night. Moving back around Arwen once again took a seat next to Elenisil guiding Aragorn with her. The three were getting seated while Legolas stayed standing still gazing upon the still mysterious creature before him. As Elenisil shifted making room for Arwen and Aragorn on the the bench beside her Legolas swore he saw something odd moving behind her beneath that long black cloak. His eyes widened in the now clear unfiltered light of the moon. This creature has WINGS!?

*Note:

A blue moon is when a full moon occurs twice in one month. A second month with a full moon in the same year is know as the Second Blue Moon. A Second Blue Moon only happens once every 25 years.