italics - Elvish
Twelve years later
Meduineth was bouncing on the balls of her feet as she waited for Aragorn to return, it had been nearly five years since she had last seen him and she was both incredibly nervous and excited to see the man again.
"Our little sister seems to be inflicted with some sort of virus that renders her incapable of staying still," Elladen smirks as he Elrohir and Arwen stand watching her.
"Do you remember when she first came here, how she used to mourn him every time he left?" Arwen asks and both males nod the humour somewhat gone from their faces as they watch her now. They had all grown incredible fond of their fathers ward as they had of Aragorn and, as with him, they had trained her and schooled her and watched her grow into a beautiful and courageous young woman. They also knew, as their father did, that her bond with Aragorn was beyond that of a simple friendship. It was powerful and it seemed to be equally reciprocated by both parties. Or at least it had been the last time they had seen one another.
"They are here, they are here!" Meduineth cries as she sprints past the three elves leaving them laughing as they follow her towards the stables. "Aragorn," he is barely out of the saddle before she has launched herself into his arms which instantly close around her as he swings her around, his weariness forgotten in his joy at seeing her, burying his face in her hair and breathing her in.
"My little mystery, how I have missed you," he murmurs tightening his grip on her until she laughingly pulls away.
"You are choking the air out of me," she giggles blushing prettily as he tucks a strand of her golden hair behind her ear.
"You have become a woman Meduineth," he whispers causing her to blush even more deeply and duck her head.
"I am now twenty summers old," she replies rather weakly not knowing what else to say and he smiles pulling her to him once more.
"You are more beautiful every time I see you," he whispers to her kissing her softly on the temple.
"And you are more handsome," she returns, "why have you waited so long, I have missed you terribly?" she mutters now and he sighs deeply his hand grasping hers tightly.
"I am sorry Nin dilthen mysterui (my little mystery) I will explain everything to you once I have spoken to Lord Elrond," he says gently giving her hand one last squeeze before disappearing inside trying to calm his thundering heart just as she was hers. He could not understand how she had such a strong hold over her, if he was being honest with himself the reason he had stayed away so long is because each time he had left her it had become harder to do so and he feared that he would not survive leaving her again. Indeed he knew that something was to happen at the coming council and the fear of her being harmed, or of being separated from her caused him to feel as if he had been doused in ice water.
"Your seperation has done little to diminish your connection to my child I see," Lord Elrond says a hint of knowing in his tone as Aragorn turns to see him.
"I do not understand it, I have never felt this way towards another being, I feel it is more than just protectiveness over the child I found all those years ago," he sighs deeply confusion creasing his brow.
"Think not on it my son, go and rest you must be prepared for the council tomorrow, our guests should be arriving soon," he nods and bows to Lord Elrond before disappearing through the archway towards his rooms and a much needed bath.
"Neither have worked it out then?" another deeper voice questions as Gandalf steps out of the shadows.
"No, though I daresay they are the only ones who have not," Elrond says with an almost sad smile,
"Then you know what is likely to happen tomorrow?" Gandalf questions and Elrond balls his fists slightly in frustration at the wizards words.
"I will not allow it and neither will he," he growls and the old wizard merely chuckles although there is little mirth in it.
"You know as well as I Elrond it is beyond our control to command and although he will not wish it either he will not deny her, he will not be able to," and for a long time both ancient men sit in silence watching over the city of Imaldris.
Meduineth was wandering the halls silently as she contemplated what to do with herself, she had spent the previous evening on her swing in the gardens with Aragorn relishing the feeling of having him home and by her side once more. In some ways, when she thought of it, the feeling of completeness that she got when he was with her terrified her, it was like she would never be whole without him and that was an idea she did not want to think on too much but on the other hand being away from him again, being separated from him again, caused an almost physical pain to grip her and that was something she wanted to think on even less.
He had told her last night of the ring, of how it was here, of the council that he was called to and she was angry and indignant that she was not invited. Although, to be fair, there was no reason why she should be, I mean she was nothing more than a village child, an orphan, a human, raised by the elves. She had no bearing over such serious matters and yet something inside her burned to be included, something told her to be there and so, without pausing long enough to talk herself out of it she made her way to where the council was being held and found herself a hiding place behind her fathers throne.
She held her breath as the council members began to arrive, watching silently as elves and dwarves and men arrived and took their places around the stone plinth. When the ring was placed on the stone dias she felt as if her entire body had been submerged in icy water so strong was the evil she felt radiating from it and when the man started speaking she shrunk back in fear stifling a scream as she meets the eye of two little hobbits also hiding close by but all three quickly hush the others and she almost smiles as one of them throws her a cheeky wink.
The meeting seems to last forever as her father speaks of the rings history and of the decision that must be made and her legs are cramping terribly, if not for her brothers training she probably would have given away her position hours ago but she was used to staying hidden and still and silent for long periods of time to hunt and attack.
Her attention is caught again as the members of the council begin to argue in ernest and then a small voice breaks through the shouting of those gathered.
"I will take it," the little hobbit says and suddenly there is silence surrounding them, "I will take the ring to Mordor, though… I do not know the way," the silence is so complete it is oppressive now and Meduineth feels her heart beating so wildly she fears she may be sick as she sees Aragorn step forward and kneel before him.
"If by my life, or death, I can protect you I will, you have my sword," his words make her entire body freeze with terror and she knows then what she must do. For a moment she can't move she simply watches as though detached as a beautiful wood elf steps forward and offers his bow and then one of the dwarves and finally the man. She is still sitting silently as a hobbit she had not known was hiding, rushes out and joins the group, it is only the other two falling forwards and offering their services that propel her into action.
So, standing on shaking legs she steps out too, trying to ignore the gasps of shock from those around her and especially avoiding Aragorn's gaze as she steps forward.
"I may not have the expert skill that some of these fine warriors have my little friend but I will die protecting you and to ensure we can succeed on this mission," she says quietly and he nods sadly at her as she grips his shoulder before standing and joining the others. She glances up now and meets her fathers eye and he closes his eyes briefly nodding sadly at her before facing them all.
"So be it, ten companions, you shall be the fellowship of the ring," he commands and immediately the others begin to disperse until only the fellowship and Lord Elrond remain. Meduineth is frozen to the spot, she can feel the animosity of the man the fear and anger from Aragorn and the resignation of her father and it was crippling.
"What are you thinking, allowing a woman to join this quest?" the man, Boromir, suddenly explodes and those words break the damn as all the others begin shouting. Aragorn too, as well as all the males shouting their disapproval in fact, the only ones not shouting were the hobbits and herself.
"Enough," Lord Elrond suddenly roars and a silence falls over the small company as the men are left breathing hard.
"My lord it is too dangerous…" Aragorn tries again and she flinches slightly at the anger and desperation in his voice.
"You think I make this decision lightly, she is my daughter?" Elrond growls and the silence becomes even more complete, so complete that all she can hear is the thundering beat of her own heartbeat as she moves to sit on one of the stone seats, stoically avoiding any eyes that might be watching her.
"She can not come," Boromir says again and this time Gandalf is the one to step in as she watches her father try to calm himself, she doesn't think she has ever seen him so angry.
"The decision has been made and you must trust that the right one has been made, she will prove herself valuable to this fellowship, now go and prepare we leave at dawn," he says and the sense of finality in his voice brokers no argument.
Soon the only ones left are Elrond, Aragorn and Meduineth and still she sits silently and tensely.
"Do not be too long Estel, we must go over the maps," Elrond says as he turns to leave and then the two of them are alone and for a long time neither moves or speaks.
"What do you think you are doing?" he asks eventually, anger clear to hear in his voice and she looks up stepping away from him as she sees the hardened expression on his face. Never before had he looked at her this way and it broke her heart to see it directed at her.
"I am doing what is right," she replies in a whisper concentrating on keeping her voice steady and not flinching from him as he takes an angry step towards her.
"You have no idea what you are doing," he cries and she rounds on him now angry tears stinging at her eyes despite her best efforts to keep them at bay.
"Do I not? What do you know of what I do or do not understand you have not been to see me in five years Aragorn, I have grown and fought and learned of the evils of this world in that time, how dare you tell me what I do not understand. Or do you forget the circumstances under which we met?" she regrets the words the instant they have left her mouth as she watches him recoil in horror and sink heavily into a chair his head in his hands.
For a few moments she doesn't know what to do, she simply stands and watches him until she can stand it no longer and moves to kneel before him taking his hands in hers and pulling them from his face so he is forced to look at her.
"I am sorry, I did not mean to upset you," she whispers and he smiles sadly at her as he wipes the tears, she had not known had fallen, from her cheeks as he had every time he left her.
"I merely seek to keep you safe from harm," he murmurs as she leans almost unconsciously into his touch.
"I know but you must understand that you cannot make me stay, I know the danger that awaits us but I think… I think that the greatest harm is done when you leave me behind," she says in a tiny voice.
"Oh, Nin dilthen mysterui," he says with another heavy sigh as he pulls her into his lap and wraps his arms tightly around her waist, her own arms finding their way around his neck as she buries her head in the juncture between his head and shoulder. "Every time I have left you it has torn me apart, since the moment I found you, you have had a hold on me which has only grown stronger with time," he whispers the words as his fingers stroke through her hair.
"I am sorry for making you worry," she says in response keeping her face hidden to hide the blush she can feel staining her cheeks and fighting to control the wild flipping of her stomach at his words.
She did not understand these feelings, they were new. Although she had always felt more comfortable around him than any other, always wept when he left, these tingling feelings when he touched her, the butterflies that roiled in her stomach when he whispered words to her, they were new and they scared her and intrigued her in equal measure.
"At least if I have you with me I can try to keep you safe and do not have to worry about where you are and what is happening in your life," he says now and she can almost hear the little smile in his voice as he says it.
"I suppose you should go and see father and Gandalf," she mutters after a while as she extricates herself from his arms and moves to stand up, pulling him with her.
"Aye, and you must go and face your brothers and sister," he chuckles pulling her into another quick hug as she winces at the thought of telling them what she had done.
Sighing, Meduineth throws herself onto her bed in an attempt to sleep ahead of tomorrows journey. She had found her siblings shortly after she had parted with Aragorn and it had been a fraught afternoon of arguing, eventual acceptance and tears. Her brothers had not been happy with her but had ultimately declared their pride at her bravery and had told her to use her training well, before insisting on a last trip to the training grounds to put her through her paces before presenting her with a new bow and sword for the journey. She had cried a little then holding them tightly while they comforted her, for once being serious with her and less of their jovial selves.
It was with Arwen that she had struggled. The elf had argued more emphatically than any other against her going and had wept for her sister, the girl she had helped to raise the girl she almost viewed as being her own child. She had run off to confront Aragorn and her father about letting her embark on such a quest and Meduineth had not seen her since. It pained her heart to think that she would leave Rivendell and her family on bad terms with Arwen and it was a long time before she drifted into a fitful sleep.
When she awoke she felt, if possible, more tired than she had the night before but shaking it off she enjoys what is sure to be the last bath in many long weeks and then slowly dresses before taking a seat at her dressing table starting a little as the door opens and Arwen steps silently into the room.
"Let me," she says taking the hair brush from her and beginning to run it through Meduineth's long golden hair, thicker and darker than the wood elves but no less beautiful in the elf woman's opinion. She hums as she begins to braid it as a warriors hair would be, smiling as the girl looks at her through wide green eyes, her gaze tentative, nervous and she sighs a little as she finishes and pulls the girl up turning her to face her and pulling her into a hug. "I love you Meduineth, never forget that, I just want what's best for you and I trust Aragorn to keep you safe,"
"How do you know I won't be the one to keep him safe?" she asks indignantly and Arwen laughs a little.
"I shall miss you, here," she holds out a necklace to the girl, one that is almost an exact replica of her own evenstar only this one had a green gem within it, "wear this to remember me by until we meet again," she murmurs placing it over her head and Meduineth fingers the jewel in wonder.
"It is beautiful," she says in reverence, smiling through watery eyes.
"It is a gift I have been saving for a long time for you and one day you shall give it to the man you love, it will keep him safe and connected to you," she says and there is a knowing look in her eye, her words confusing Meduineth but she choses not to think too much on it as dawn was fast approaching and so instead gives Arwen another smile and hug before strapping her weapons to her body and moving toward the door.
"Come then, you can wave me off," she says and the elf smiles in return, albeit weakly and together they make their way to the gates where the fellowship were gathering.