It was on the twenty fourth of October that I was asked to go to the meeting sight. I looked around, at everyone sitting in a semicircle. As I was revealed, I watched every last sitting man stand as their eyes landed on me.
"What is a woman doing here?" A richly dressed man questioned in a somewhat stiff manner.
I ignored him as my eyes locked on two Dwarves sitting in front with others. My eyes continued to scan the seats to see Strider sitting by the Dwarves, and by him, a blond Elf. Beside him, sat a Hobbit with dark curly hair. On the other side of the Dwarves, sat more Elves, and the man that had the gall to question my being there.
"Fagre is here to get answers to questions that will be addressed here. I thought it best she attend." Lord Elrond answered the richly dressed man. While he spoke, I moved to the side, beside Gandalf, and next to Frodo. I decided to look around again to notice others, while still standing, no longer looked at me, except for one blond Elf. His gaze was curious, probably from feeling my fëa. It probably resembled that of an Elves life force. It definitely did not resemble that of the race of men's fëa. I knew this, so I tried to school my features and still my fidgeting.
As the meeting began, Gandalf began to recount the story of the Ring thus far. I absently played with a curled lock of hair that had fallen over my shoulder. As he continued with his long winded story, I studiously ignored the blonds penetrating stare, braiding the same lock of hair I had been playing with. "...and now I have caught up to the present. Forgive me for my long story, but I did not wish to leave out any details." Gandalf finished.
I listened as everyone continued to fill everyone else of the going ons of Arda. It was when Frodo was called to reveal the Ring, and Boromir had begun his speech, that I couldn't help but frown. When Gandalf practically roared in Black Speech, I winced in pain. Elrond chastised him for such speech in Rivendell, and I had to agree. As I watched everyone break into arguments, I felt my eye twitch andI muttered, "I remember Dwarves being hot tempered, but it seems as if tension is running high with all the testosterone in the air." I could see that Elrond agreed by his grim features.
"I will take it! I will take the ring to Mordor!" It went quiet as everyone looked down at the little being that had stepped forward. "Only, I do not know the way..." Frodo looked about, lost as a small child.
"I will be your guide, and help you bear the burden, so long as it is your burden to bear." Gandalf smiled down at the Hobbit.
"You have my sword."Strider got down on one knee.
"And my bow." Added the blond.
"And my ax!" One of the Dwarves seemed to issue challenge to the blond, which caused an eye roll.
"If it must be destroyed, Gondor will see it done, the richly clad man stated.
"Hold up, Mr. Frodo will not be going anywhere without me!" A stout Hobbit called as he stumbled through the brush.
Elrond replied in amusement, before two more Hobbits crashed the 'secret' meeting.
"We're going, too!" One cried.
"Yes, your'e going to need someone with brains on this quest." The other said.
"That leaves you out, Pip." The first laughed.
"That makes nine companions-"
"Ten."
Everyone turned to me. "Ten companions. I cannot sit idly by, while others risk their lives." I stared straight ahead, ignoring the intense stares I was receiving.
"A woman cannot be aloud on such a dangerous quest." The richly clad man scoffed.
"Very well. Ten companions it shall be." Elrond amended.
"You must be joking! She will perish within a fortnight! The girl is as delicate as a freshly sprung flower." He argued.
"Perhaps if this flower you speak of had thorns to spear its prey." I replied. He glared at me. I narrowed my eyes. "You are in more danger than I."
"Is that so, little one?" He growled.
"I have not lived a thousand years to mocked by some child with little understanding of how the world works." I barked. Hair fell into my face, and out of irritation, I pulled my hair behind my ear, unthinkingly exposing part of my heritage. I heard many gasps around me.
"You are the shortest Elf I have ever seen." I heard the Dwarf mutter.
"How rude." I glared. "Now that this is settled, please let me know when we set out."
"When our scouts have come back, you shall be notified." Elrond replied.
I nodded, and quickly made my way back to my room, avoiding everyone's eyes on me.
I exited my room clothed in a dress that evening, intent on making my way to supper. Only a moment after I sensed someone nearby, they spoke up. "Would you allow me to accompany you to supper, milady?"
I glanced at the blond Elf warily. "I suppose you may. We would be going the same way in any case, I presume. But I would feel better about the matter if I knew who you were." This earned a chuckle from him.
"I am Legolas of Greenwood the Great." He gave a quick bow. I nodded stiffly. He offered his arm, which I accepted, to satisfy him.
"Greenwood the Great? I have never had the chance to go there. But then, I have not ventured very far from my thicket of trees since I settled there. To be truthful, this the farthest I have ever traveled." I admitted.
"Perhaps, after this is over, you may visit." He smiled down at me.
"We shall see." I chuckled. Once we made it to where the feast was being held, I released his arm and moved to a seat further from where I figured he might sit.
While I had adapted to being around so many people, I still felt nervous around him. He hadn't been rude. But some part of me remained unsettled. I chanced a peek in his direction to see him laughing at something one of the other Elves said. I quickly averted my eyes to my plate, and made quick work of eating. Not desiring to have to converse with others, I removed myself to the Hall of Fire, where many songs were sung, and merry making could be heard. I closed my eyes and listened to the sweetened words.
"Milady, Lord Elrond wishes to speak to you." I opened my eyes and stared at the Elleth that addressed me.
"Please lead the way, then." I answered softly. The music had put me at ease, and I could not bring myself to break the peace with too loud of speech.
The Elleth led me through halls, turning here or there. Finally, we were in front of a door, which she knocked upon and murmured in Sindarin, what I supposed to be something along the lines of "She's here."
"Enter." Lord Elrond's voice seemed so severe, that I worried for a moment that I had angered him in some way. I opened the door, nodding to the Elleth who curtsied at me. I noticed that we were not alone. His three children were also in the room. "When we first met, you greeted me in the fashion of a Dwarf. And today, you have revealed that you have Elven heritage. I cannot help but wonder at how such a thing could occur." His voice was a strange mix of gentleness ans sternness.
"My mother told me as a child that she and my biological father had drank far too much at a Tavern, and had woken to find they had been... physically intimate. My mother had been ready to go home in shame when the male Elf explained that to his people, they were married. When she told her family, they chased him away. He had stayed near the village out of duty, I suspect, and perished in an Orc raid. He fought off the Orcs and left none standing, but at the cost of his own life. Shortly after, my mother was remarried to a Dwarf, and months later, I was born." I stared at my shoes, mentally wondering if I should ask if I would have time to have boots made before we left.
"I see. But Dwarves did not keep you company all this time?" He asked quietly. I could see Arwen look horrified at my tale.
"No. Shortly after I turned one hundred and forty five, my mother passed from illness. I had one year to mourn before my younger brother helped me leave under the cover of nightfall." I replied. "Nobody wanted an Elf spawn in the village."
"Then you have been alone all this time." He murmured.
"I visited villages under the guise of a human to get clothes and such." I raised my head stubbornly.
"But you have had no friends to comfort you in your grief." He retorted.
"The trees kept me company." I defended.
"In any case, I have welcomed you into my home for as long as you like, and I meant it. I have no problem finding you a permanent residence." He smiled kindly. I was taken aback by his offer.
"You... you would offer me a home? But you hardly know me!" I cried. I could feel the almost foreign sensation of tears pricking my eyes.
"It matters not, when I can see the loneliness in your eyes. This place may not be here for much longer, but I feel it is only right to offer you citizenship, and the right to sail to the Grey Havens with the rest of our kind." I looked at the others in the room, seeing only smiles and friendly faces.
"There is something else, isn't there?" I guessed. "There has to be more than that to bring in others." I started shifting my weight from foot to foot in my usual nervous habit.
"Yes. To make my offer valid, and to assure that you are never again alone, I have proposed to my children, and they have accepted, the offer to welcome you into our family." My body froze. He's not serious?! He can't be. I am a virtual stranger to him!
"Do you make a habit of offering such things to all strangers who enter your home?"
"No. But there is something about you. Such a sadness, that it is a wonder you have not faded into the next life. And I cannot help but hope to help you in your suffering." He gazed into my eyes with such an intensity, that I fought the urge to look away.
"Perhaps for more selfish reasons than I care to admit, I think I will accept your offer." I looked back down at my worn boots. I was startled by arms encircling me and froze. Arwen was hugging me while Elladen and Elrohir grinned from a small distance. I supposed my face was rather humorous, with wide grey eyes, and an almost blank face of shock. I looked to Lord Elrond for help on how to handle this action of affection. He smiled tenderly.
"I will settle matters swiftly, and prepare the ceremony for a week from now." At my panicked face, he chuckled. "Do not worry, the most talking will be done by me. All you will have to do is say that you acknowledge me to be your father and Arwen, Elladen, and Elrohir as your sister and brothers."
I nodded awkwardly as Arwen held me at arm length. I could see she was searching me for something. "Perhaps we may go back to the Hall of Fire. I could braid your hair?" She offered. I felt like the skittish little rabbit I had once caught as a pet, a long time ago. I nodded to appease her, not sure what else I could do.
"Great, we'll come along as well." The twins grinned down at me. I still could not speak, but I knew that arguing would be fruitless anyway.
We had made it back to the Hall of Fire to see the whole of the Fellowship had arrived, sans Frodo, who had retired early. I noticed Legolas look up at me curiously, and quickly chose a seat across the fire from him. I was careful to sit far enough away from the fire, against a log, so that Arwen could situate herself comfortably behind me to start her braiding. The twins sat nearby, and began to sing along with whatever song was being sung. I could even hear Arwen humming behind me. It did not take long for me to relax at the sensation of fingers combing through my hair to section off parts of my hair.
Legolas moved from his original space to see me surrounded by the offspring of Elrond, and raised his eyebrows. He moved to sit by me on the ground after paying his respects to them. "Are you enjoying yourself?" He asked.
Careful not to move my head and mess up any progress Arwen had made, I glanced at him from the side. "It has been an overall, peaceful evening." I answered. "Though some parts have been more so than others."
I heard the twins cough lightly. Legolas looked at me with narrowed eyes. "Are you implying that I am disturbing your peace, milady?"
"Not at all," I replied all too innocently, "but it is difficult to focus on the songs when there are people speaking to me." I could feel the shock radiating from him as the twins snickered quietly.
"I see. Forgive me for disturbing your evening." He moved to leave, but I quickly grabbed his sleeve.
"You do not have to go." What in Arda possessed me to say that? Have I lost my mind? I could see him contemplating the pros and cons of staying before, finally, he sat back down and looked up at the flames.
"My father has called your father to Rivendell." Arwen broke the silence. This shook both Legolas and I from our thoughts.
"Is something wrong?" Legolas asked.
"Not at all. In fact..." Elladen started.
"It is a rather happy occurance." Elrohir finished. They both grinned down at us, and I narrowed my eyes at them.
"What is the occasion, if I may be so bold as to ask?" Legolas inquired curiously.
"We gain a sister in a weeks time." Arwen answered happily.
"Oh?" Legolas looked surprised.
"Yes. You sit by her even now." Elrohir chuckled.
I could see the shock register on Legolas' face. "Oh."
"Oh" indeed.
