A/N So this took way too long to write. I can't say I was busy, because I wasn't. Honestly I was just putting it off, and because of that I got a pretty bad case of writer's block. The main problem with writer's block is the fact that it gets worse the more you don't write, which is hard to do when you don't have creativity. Or, at least that's how writer's block affects me. I eventually forced myself to write this, which is why this chapter is probably not all that good. It is forced creativity, which is never a good thing.
I don't own Lord of the Rings. I only own Edleneth and any other characters I make up along the way, as well as the twists I put into the basic story. All speech in this chapter is Elvish. Please review!
After one week of travel, Edleneth had reached the Gap of Rohan, where she bid farewell to Elrohir and Elladan. From there it took another week to get to Lórien. When she arrived, Edleneth tied Suldal to a tree and let him graze while she went in search of the Lady Galadriel.
Lady Galadriel was with her husband Lord Celeborn as Edleneth approached. She had deep gold hair, and as she stood, her height towered over Edleneth as she kneeled before the Lady of Light. She wore white, and had no signs of age except that her eyes were full of a deep wisdom only those who had lived for thousands of years had.
"My lady," Edleneth greeted, "I came as quickly as I could."
Galadriel smiled sadly. "Edleneth," she said, "You have a long journey ahead of you." She gestured for Edleneth to stand. Celeborn nodded to Galadriel and to Edleneth and left the room.
"To where?" Edleneth asked.
"Mordor, in the end," Galadriel replied.
"Mordor?"
"I have finished deciphering the prophecy that concerns you," Galadriel explained, "You know how it goes?"
"By heart," Edleneth replied. "Would you like me to recite it?"
"Only the last verse you know," Galadriel answered.
Edleneth sighed.
"The last breath of Edleneth,
Unfinished as the sea
By another will be done
And into her their soul will go."
"There is one more verse after that," Galadriel told Edleneth,
"Edleneth will rule them all.
Edleneth will find them.
Edleneth will bring them all
And in the deep darkness bind them."
"But that sounds like-" Edleneth began, but stopped before she acknowledged what her brain was telling her.
"It is not someone who will go into your body after your death, but something." The Lady of the Wood placed her hand on Edleneth's shoulder. "Something very evil."
"How can something possess me?" she asked, "Doesn't it need to be alive in order for it to have a soul?"
"The Ring of Power has a mind of its own," Galadriel explained.
Edleneth shook her head in denial. "Can we be mistaken? Maybe this prophecy is about a different Edleneth?"
Galadriel gave Edleneth a sympathetic look and shook her head. "You are the only Edleneth in these lands anymore, your appearance fits the description in the first verse, and this prophecy was discovered the day you were born."
"How can I prevent this from happening?" Edleneth asked urgently.
"You can't," Galadriel replied, "A prophecy is a prophecy. If you try to prevent it, it will only come true in a more complicated and gruesome way."
Edleneth looked down sadly. "Then what can I do?"
"Join the Fellowship." Galadriel advised, "Tell Mithrandir what I've told you. He can help you with what you must do."
Edleneth nodded solemnly. "I shall, my Lady, but where do I find them?"
"They are headed for the west gate of Moria at this moment," Galadriel answered, "You must hurry."
"I shall leave immediately," Edleneth said.
"You will be given provisions," Galadriel told her, "But there is one more thing you need to know."
"Yes?" Edleneth asked.
Galadriel turned her back on Edleneth. "After today, you are banished from Lothlórien. You can never return here. The evil you will carry is too great for even me to resist." She paused for a minute, seemingly lost in thought. "You would have a queen, beautiful and terrible as the dawn, treacherous as the sea, stronger than the foundations of the Earth." A dark glow surrounded her.
"My lady?" Edleneth asked cautiously.
Galadriel shook her head. "I will go to the West, and remain Galadriel." She looked at Edleneth. "You must go. May the Valar be with you."
Edleneth bowed to the lady. "As with you." She left the room and walked quickly back to where Suldal was tied. If what Lady Galadriel had said was true, which it always was, Edleneth had a little under a week to make it to the Fellowship. For someone who knew that she was riding to her death, Edleneth was surprisingly calm. She figured it was because she had always known she would die. She had just wondered when it would happen.
"Lady Edleneth," an elf walked up to her, arms full of provisions that she would need for her journey. "Lady Galadriel asked me to give these to you," the elf said, as he handed her the supplies. She smiled when she saw many packets of lembas bread.
"Thank you," she told the elf, "Please thank the Lady Galadriel as well." She turned and began to pack the provisions into her saddlebags when she found a small pendant tucked in as well. It was a circle with some intricate designs of healing and protection etched in.
"It is so that you may remember who you are after your death," Galadriel's voice filled Edleneth's mind.
"Thank you," Edleneth murmured as she hung the necklace around her neck. With that, she finished packing, swung onto Suldal, and rode west. She had to reach Moria in time.