It had happened within a matter of seconds. There she was pacing impatiently, something she was commonly known for when she was bored, waiting for the old wizard to acknowledge her presence. Nimirher sighed deeply, Aragorn had been her companion throughout Rivendell that day but he had been drawn away by Arwen. Unfortunately it had riddled her mood with anger and she had spent the better part of the last two hours moping around like a seven year old child. With the lack of sleep and the heavy burden of stress managing to wrap its dark arms around her, she was growing increasing impatient and moody.

Kicking a few pebbles out from under her boots, she gave up her endless internal rant to sit within the beautiful garden outside Lord Elronds' doors. For hours it seemed Gandalf occupied that room. A group of men had already come and gone from their council. And from the great horn that had been tied around the waist of the youngest man, she could only assume that they were the representatives from Gondor.

They took no more than twenty minutes of Elrond and Gandalfs' time but they emerged with empty faces and furrowed brows. They managed to ignore her completely even after she had decided to take up her insistent pacing again. Passing by her, the men kept their heads down discussing pressing matters that continued to frustrate them.

Dwarves surfaced after the men had left. The sight of the short hairy men had stopped every argument she had been battling internally. She had never seen a Dwarf before and she found herself feeling like she was ten again when she knew absolutely nothing of Middle Earth. Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves, great Horns of Gondor…these were all new to her. Too long she had been sheltered in the tower of Orthanc with Saruman. Unlike the men that had preceding before them, they had acknowledged her with a short bow and a wave of their hand.

With their heavy steps crowding themselves into Lord Elronds' room, she was left alone once again. And with their departure arrived the internal invasion of endless thoughts in her mind. When she had been walking with Aragorn, she had given herself the luxury of ignoring her previous thoughts, but being alone had made her their victim.

Perhaps it was all just a dream. She had known for years that Saruman could toy with peoples' minds. Maybe the old man thought this was a good way to get back at her for leaving him. Her weak composure would prove him correct if that was his goal. He hit her where it hurt the most, knowing how weak she was in her own power. She would kill herself before she allowed that darkness to consume her. Which path would take her back to Saruman and which would lead her to a life of peace? Maybe her mind had been right to plant that gorgeous face in her nightmare. The blond elf with blue eyes had unearthed her very soul, scorching her heart and leaving her scarred. Every sinner needed a savior and that man had definitely struck a cord of fear in her heart. The blood of Orcs would be all that stained her hands.

Turning around she had planned on grabbing Gandalf to seek counsel with him herself but the sound of the swaying door behind her did not signal the availability of her mentor. Somehow during her thoughtful yet troubled pacing, she had missed the departure of the Dwarves completely and now a group of Elves were being welcomed inside by Elrond. It wasn't the difference in the hair color, the clothing, or even their language that had unnerved her. It was when her brown eyes made contact with the blue ones in front of her.

It's like time had disappeared and left nothing behind to keep her knees from falling to his feet. Air no longer held a home in her lungs and she struggled to pull in jagged breaths. Those eyes weren't supposed to exist, they were only meant to torture her. Scarring her heart when it ripped from her body. Blinding her when she felt the undeniable urge to gaze into his eyes. And shattering all hopes of touching that perfect face. His lips seemed to whisper an endless lullaby…reaching for her….begging for her. She was struggling to grip reality.

Waiting, such a simple gesture and it had spun her world out of focus. His golden head had but barely turned in her direction when she had to grit her teeth against the fierce attack of memories. The blue eyes stared at her with an emotion she couldn't place. A sickening churn of her stomach reminded her when that face was lost to her forever. She remembered listening to her chest, listening as the beat that no longer existed. He had been her beating heart and with his last breath he ripped it clean from her chest, taking all the memories of their undying love.

She whipped around violently, her body contorting painfully as she gripped the bark of the tree for support. 'Ugh, this is stupid,' thought Nimirher as she braced her forehead against the rough skin of the elder tree. Her pacing would not save her from this situation. Too long she had used her shuffling feet to hide the true emotions that stirred just beneath the surface. Even they couldn't keep the swift wind from blowing away every ounce of composure she had left.

The quiet murmurings of the Elves broke through her delusion. Silent they had been moments before but now they seemed impatient and irritable. A trait very unlike any Elf that roamed Middle Earth. Puffing out every breath she had kept trapped behind her clenched teeth, she prepared herself to turn around and fight the temptation to wither beneath his stare.

Turning around had proved a challenge as her stiff neck creaked, pulling muscles along her shoulder. Deciding her limbs would abandon her, remaining limp and useless, she kept her arms braced in front of her seeking, solace against the coarse bark.

Blue met brown yet again. The lean form of the blonde Elf stood silent by Elrond, his stare melting into her soul. The hushed whispering and exaggerated arm gestures of the other Elves with him couldn't break him from his stance. Without the gentle breeze blowing his long hair, he could resemble a statue, stuck in a timeless moment without emotion.

Nimirher had dropped the hold she had on the tree and turned fully towards him. He stood but thirty yards from her, frozen just like herself. No emotion crossed his face. Nothing but pain and anguish revived violently within her. Why did he just stand there? Why stare at her? She began to anger, it bubbled close to the surface ready to spill over. Did he not realize that he was drawing a crowd? Did he not sense the anxiety rooted so deep within her? He wasn't supposed to exist, he wasn't supposed to be staring at her now alive with a strong beating heart.

Her hands twitched by her side wanting so badly to touch him, to run her fingers through his silken hair, to feel his body pressed tightly against her own. He could have suffocated her with his strength as he held her and she wouldn't have cared.

She would kick herself later when she could draw her eyes and body away. She'd realize how silly and stupid she must have looked staring dumbfounded at the man. She'd realize how weak she would be if she let this fetish rule her every thought and every move. It was that last thought that shook her foundation, pulling her out of her reverie.

She found herself alone. Apparently his companions had managed to snap him out of his daydream far sooner than she had awakened herself.

Alone…the breeze swept leaves across her still feet….alone…the sun began its slow descent below the walls of Rivendell….alone she stood heartbroken and confused.

**I know this is a considerably shorter chapter than normal but I wanted this one to stand on its own. Many of you may not believe in love at first sight, I can be one of them, but for my story, it's an important factor.

Fate and Destiny play interesting roles in the books and I wanted to explore that possibility further.

I hope you all still enjoy what I'm trying to portray here.