Chapter 1
Arianna opened her eyes. Her head throbbed in cadence with the slow steady beat of her pulse. She blinked rapidly in an effort to dispel her sleep-hindered sight, and when her vision cleared, the fog of unconsciousness lifted, she sat awe stuck by her surroundings. A nameless fear gripped her as she struggled to remember. Memories deliquesced formlessly through her mind like smoke. There had been a man—Aiden. She had been out celebrating something—something important. She had been out with friends celebrating. She had gone out to Charlottes' car to retrieve her ID, and he materialized from the gloom of the poorly lit parking lot. He had hit her—had held a knife to her throat. Her body shook uncontrollably as she recalled what had happened next. He had forced her to the ground and—oh God. Tears welled in her eyes. She had tried to fight him, but he had overpowered her—raped her. She remembered the gleam of a knife—something hard and cold pressed to her temple—and—and nothing.
Despite these horrifying revelations, nothing could explain what she had awoken to find. She was in a bed, but it wasn't the undersized, uncomfortable structure of a hospital cot, nor was it the familiar firmness of the twin bed in her apartment. This bed was considerably larger, and the plush down feel of it reminded her of the comforters people usually stole from high end hotels—not that she ever had, but she had heard stories. The bed was dressed with satin sheets which were such a brilliant white that had Jesus been in the room with her; she imagined he would have been clad in her bed linen. The rest of the room was as warm and inviting as the bed. The stone walls were as white as the bed sheets and draped in the very lightest and most delicate of champagne colored hangings. Upon the high arched ceiling was a mural of the night sky; painted in the very deepest of blues and dusted with a multitude of stars; seeming almost to twinkle as their celestial counterparts blazed in a lamp-less night. Stone pillars dappled with silvery gold inlay and filigree held the arched ceiling aloft, and champagne tinted drapes fluttered in the breeze from the open door across the room, which she saw led to a balcony that glittered ethereally in the sun.
"Quel amrun, van min. Im estel le lóre mae.(Good morning, fair one. I hope you slept well.)" said a voice from somewhere beyond her line of sight. Arianna jerked around, startled, as a man elegantly strode into the room through the balcony door. Instinct took over and she scrambled to the head of the bed, pulling her bed covers with her. She would not be taken advantage of again, however it was immediately apparent that this was not the sort of person Arianna attributed with acts of sexual assault, or violence of any sort for that matter. The man before her exuded an aura of quiet authority. The air around him practically hummed with it. It took only a moment for her to decide that he wasn't a threat. He stood, clad in what she determined to be fine medieval robes, yet they seemed more the style of robes you'd find in the fabled land of Avalon than that of the actual middle ages. His long black hair cascaded down his back, and two locks of it were woven into intricate designs that hung on either side of his face. His face was ageless. His eyes were a warm roan in color and the look in them made her feel as if she were some wounded animal he had come upon and taken pity on. Arianna's eyes widened when her gaze fell upon his ears; which were not rounded as hers were, but sculpted to a fine point. She knew this man, she realized. With a sudden and surreal jolt, she felt that she knew who this man was with every fiber of her being—only she had to be dreaming. This man wasn't real.
Arianna was working overtime to save what little sanity remained trapped within the recesses of her mind and was surprised her brain wasn't literally smoking with overexertion. This couldn't be real—had to be some warped, trauma induced delusion; yet here she was, in some ethereal palace being stared in the face by a person who didn't exist. "Yup—must be comatose—or maybe PTSD," she said under her breath.
He watched the cascade of emotions that clouded her face intently, both curious and troubled by the young girls' presence. It had come to pass that one of his scouts had discovered her just beyond the border, unconscious and badly injured. A small band of orcs had been prodding her limp form, deciding whether or not to rape her, torture her, or simply eat her. They were now no longer alive to ponder their options. It had become quite clear upon inspection that this young woman was no ordinary human. Her striking chestnut skin tone, traversed with strange and beautiful scrollwork, was unlike anything Elrond had ever seen. Many humans possessed slightly darker skin, and even some of the elves lost their pale complexion after centuries of exposure to sunlight, but this girl was something different entirely. To his knowledge only goblins and orcs possessed skin this dark, though they were far darker, with skin that was ashen and disfigured, nothing like the smooth unblemished skin of this girl. Her strange clothing style was woven from fabrics he had never before encountered. Even the finest of his tailors had been at a loss to discover the origins of her clothing. One thing about this human was certain—she had power. From the moment she was brought before him Elrond had felt in emanating from her unconscious form. This strange, beautiful, battered girl emitted a force so strong that in all the millennia of his life he had never felt it's equal. Galadriel had come to him in dreams the night of the girl's arrival, verifying what he had already deduced. The timing was too perfect for it to have been coincidence. The only question that now remained was what part this child of man would play. After a moment more of stunned silence, he decided that it was time he introduced himself.
" Lle quena i'lambe tel' Eldalie Nîn selda? (Do you speak the language of the elves my child?)" He asked calmly. Arianna stared, dumfounded. The words fell from his lips with such elegance, that she sat transfixed. It was an alien language he was speaking, but somehow when she went over the melodic sounds in her mind, they made perfect sense, as if he had spoken English. "Manen po le hana nîn? (Can you understand me?)" He asked. Arianna said nothing, but nodded. She wasn't really in a talking mood, and talking to her own hallucinations seemed rather unhealthy in her opinion. The apparition before her seemed unsatisfied with her tactic of nonverbal communication, and appeared to be waiting on something more substantial than a nod. She opened her mouth in an attempt to explain that she could indeed understand him, but the words that escaped her were in the same lilting tongue of incoherent nonsense that came from his lips. She covered her mouth, muffling her shocked gasp. "So—you have the natural ability to speak in the language of the Caliquendi—interesting." He tentatively reached out a hand towards her and Ari winced, cowering from his attempt to touch her. Elrond's face darkened, a mixture of paternal sympathy and rage for what had caused this girl to flinch from his touch. "You are safe child. I am Lord Elrond, and you are under my protection. I swear no harm shall come to you while you are in my keeping". After a long moment she gave a brief nod of consent. Lord Elrond placed his hand upon her forehead and closed his eyes, mumbling something to himself in that same strange and beautiful tongue.
Great, Arianna thought to herself sarcastically as she watched Elrond. I'm a walking, talking English to Elven dictionary.
Elrond's unintelligible muttering went on for only a moment more before his eyes opened and his gaze returned to her. "Now—try to speak" he said quietly.
Arianna hesitantly opened her mouth again with a timid "Hi". This time her words were in perfect English. Her eyes grew wide. "How did you do that?" she asked. Elrond smiled warmly.
"I have placed a simple enchantment upon your mind. You seem to have an unconscious ability to understand languages, only now, no matter what language you speak, it will always sound like your native tongue. Arianna made an impressed noise. "That's a nifty little trick—," she began, then remembered who she was talking to and sanity—or rather, insanity, quickly reasserted itself.
"Where am I?!" she half cried with delirium, already knowing the answer. She might as well get the hysteria out of the way. It was going to come out sooner or later. Might as well make it sooner, she thought to herself.
"My child, you are safe within the walls of Rivendell," said Elrond, rubbing her back comfortingly. This did not ease Arianna's hysteria, for he had just confirmed that her ordeal had caused either a major psychotic break, made her comatose, or killed her, because she was sure, beyond a doubt, that this was Middle Earth. Arianna silently hoped for the second option, because Middle Earth was not her idea of heaven, nor did she want to entertain the idea that she might be walking aimlessly along the streets of Tucson Arizona, talking absently to lamp posts and fire hydrants, in an effort to block out the trauma of her rape and the subsequent attempted murder.
"Do you know me young one?" he asked, taking one of her hands in his. Arianna nodded slowly, drawing on everything she had ever read of the elven lord.
"You are Elrond, son of Earindil and Elwing, brother of Elros, descendant of Luthien the fair, and Melian of the Maiar". She said lowering her head in respect. Yep—better put a down payment on that Dungeons and Dragons bed set—she had officially geeked out. Elrond's brows rose at her extensive knowledge of him and his family line. "How did I get here? The last thing I remember was—". She paused, remembering the barrel of the gun, and shivered. "Am I dead?" she asked incredulously. If she was, she was going to have a serious talk with God about his choice of venue. If, however, this was some trauma induced delusion, who was she to go against her body's natural coping mechanism. Besides, this was starting to become enjoyable. Arianna decided then, that if this was her way of cracking up, she was going to ride this delusion until the preverbal wheels feel off. Elrond sighed deeply before rising from the bed and walking across the room.
"No, my child, you are very much alive, though you were only a whisper from the halls of Mandos when my scouts came upon you. They saved you from a band of roving orcs who were intent on—," he paused for a moment examining the confused expression on Arianna's face for a moment before continuing with his explanation. "—intent forcing themselves upon you, but they hadn't enough time—their crimes have been punished. In elven society, to force a woman is punishable by death, and as orcs, their fate was sealed from the moment they entered an elven wood". Arianna's eyes went wide and her body began to tremble once more.
"They—tried to rape me?" she asked shakily. Elrond paused for a moment, evaluating.
"They were deciding what to do with you," He replied solemnly. Arianna pulled her knees up to her chest. As his words reached her, flashes of memory erupted in her mind's eye. The darkened parking lot, the gritty, coarse feel of gravel littered pavement, the sounds of heavy breathing, and the feel of rough, impatient hands. Arianna choked on a sob and Elrond enfolded her in his embrace. All of her sarcastic inner monolog had dried up. Aiden had raped her. Aiden had killed her—or tried to kill her. She wasn't sure if she was truly alive, but in that moment she knew for certain that she was not dead. Death brought peace, but there was no peace to be had. She clung to the elf lord, her earlier apprehension forgotten. She needed someone, anyone—and even a figment of her imagination would do. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours before Arianna wiped her tear-stained face, silent and in shock. Elrond stroked her hair, rocking her as he would a child, a low, tuneless melody emanating from him. He sang to her, and the sound comforted her spirit. After a little while longer she steeled herself to ask the question she knew she had to ask.
"W-why am I here"? She cringed inwardly at how defeated and unsteady her voice sounded. Elrond pulled back, gazing down at her, a flurry of unspoken emotions churning behind the mask of elven grace.
"I believe you are here because of the power you possess. It is a deep and abiding force that I have never witnessed until now. You are a blessing to the peoples of this world—a light, sent by the Ainur to put to an end to the darkness that plagues this land. Tell me child, do you know of the one ring"? Arianna nodded. What more could she do? She had just woken from what she thought was morphine-induced unconsciousness, after being raped, and possibly killed to find herself in an imaginary world, linked to her own by some warped and utterly ridiculous sense of physics, in which she was almost raped a second time, and of which she was to be the soul salvation. Arianna was struck by the random thought that if Alice had stumbled down a rabbit hole of this magnitude, she would have ended up on Venus, rather than Wonderland—if she made it out at all. "That is encouraging," Elrond paused again, his expression becoming grave. "A dark and sinister presence has risen in the east, and I fear it is helping Sauron in his quest to recover the one ring. This foe has come from a world beyond our own. His origin is a mystery to us all. I feel that the Ainur have brought you here to quell this evil, so that Middle Earth will be in balance once again". Arianna paled.
"Why can't the Ainur get rid of this person themselves? They got rid of Morgoth didn't they? One mortal should be a breeze, right?" she asked skeptically.
"This person is not from our world. That much is clear. He cannot be removed by any force born of this world". Arianna was quiet for a long time before she decided to speak again.
"So what do the Ainur want from me? I'm just an ordinary girl."
"Oh but in that you are wrong my child. You are so much more than ordinary," said Elrond. He took her hand and led her to the mirror in the corner of the room. "What do you see?" He asked expectantly. Arianna looked at her reflection for a moment before looking back at him. She looked unscathed, but for the dark blotches which rimmed her eyes from her long sleep.
"Um—my refection," she said, a hint of doubt tinging her words.
"Yes, but you do not see yourself as you truly appear. Close your eyes and try to feel the power within you. Feel the source of your strength. Embrace it and you shall have new eyes," Elrond instructed. Arianna closed her eyes, confused and somewhat afraid. What was she supposed to be looking for? The power within her? New eyes? What in the hell did that mean? The source of her strength? What strength? Hope? Faith? None of it meant anything to her anymore. Those ideals had been ripped from her and she doubted they would ever return.
"Do not despair. Let not the malice of others taint the light you hold within you, for you are stronger than they could ever imagine" said an otherworldly voice, interrupting her stream of consciousness. Arianna thought she knew who it was, but she dared not call to her. Answering voices in her head was not a productive way to maintain her sanity, so instead she tried to remember a time when there was no pain. Slowly, an image materialized in her mind's eye. There was a little girl, frolicking along a sandy beach, searching for shells at the tide line. The child's mother stood close by, a pink pale in hand to collect her daughters' treasures.
"Look mommy! I found a pretty spirally one!" the child cried. The mother took the shell from the little girl and examined it.
"Crabs live in shells like this. Better check to make sure that it's empty," said the mother before raising the shell to her lips. "Is anyone at home in there?" the mother whispered, before handing the shell back to the child. She mimicked her mother, bringing the shell close to her mouth.
"Hey Mister Crab, can I have your shell?" she asked, and placed the shell to her ear for a moment before placing the shell in her pale. "He said I can have it. He says it's a magic shell," said the little girl with a grin.
"What a nice crab he must be to give you a magic shell," said the mother before both mother and child began to laugh. Tears welled in Arianna's eyes as she remembered her mother's laugh. It was then that she felt it. It didn't feel very impressive at first—just a tiny warm glow at the center of her being, but as she reached for it, the light began to grow. It grew until it filled every part of her with its warmth and strength. She wanted it to be there, and the more she wanted it, the more real it became. Was it really so long ago that she had felt true happiness? After they had moved to Arizona—after Mia had been born, she let herself become immersed in her school work. She even managed to neglect her younger sister in favor of confining herself to her room. Nowadays it seemed as though closing herself off was the only thing she did. Would it really be so hard to trust again? Arianna took a deep, calming breath, turned back to the mirror, and shrieked in surprise and astonishment.
Behind her— attached to her— were a pair of enormous white wings, speckled light brown at their tips. Her wing span approached twelve feet in length—twelve feet of feathered bone and sinew. She moved her hands to feel her back, and shrieked again when she felt the softness of the feathers which proved solid—not illusions. Arianna's legs gave out beneath her and she fell to her knees—transfixed with her own reflection.
"There is no one else who can face this threat. I know you have been through much. It is unfair of me to ask this of one so young and so fragile. I would not ask it at all if I did not think that you—that you were destined for this quest," said Elrond solemnly.
Tears were welling in Arianna's eyes again. Absentmindedly she reached up to her neck and felt the cold metal of the silver charm that hung there. It was a birthday present her mother had given her long ago. Inscribed on the medallion were the words of Mahatma Gandhi: "Be the Change you Wish to See in the World". Never in her wildest dreams had she entertained the idea that she would ever see this place. This was far too much for a 21 year old to handle, and part of her was screaming just to get back in the bed and let the peace of unconsciousness consume her, but she couldn't. This was an adventure unlike any in her world had ever known. She had been brought there for a reason. Middle Earth was in trouble, and from what Elrond had told her, she could bring this darkness to an end. Could she really just leave Middle Earth to its fate?
Elrond turned to leave. He knew that this decision—her decision should not be made hastily, and he intended to let her make it in peace. Arianna saw him turn in the mirrors refection and turned around to face him.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"To give you time to make your choice," Elrond replied.
"There is no need—I've decided" she said.
"—and?" the elven lord enquired.
"—and—I would be honored to help the people of Middle Earth."
"Excellent. As it happens, I shall be holding a council on the morrow to discuss the fate of the ring. You would honor me greatly by attending". Arianna blanched. Was he speaking of the secret council? Anxiety began to rise within her as she realized exactly what she had agreed to.
"You want me to sit in on the council?"
"Of course. What good would you do if you could not bear witness to the decisions that will directly affect your part in the destruction of this faceless malice"? She stood silently for a moment as she reflected on his words before responding.
"I suppose you have a point my lord". Elrond brought his hands together forcefully, the sound resounding off of the high stone walls. A moment later a petit, platinum blond elf in plain, if you could call a white scrollwork satin gown plain, entered the room, holding a basin full of sponges and colored shapes that Arianna deduced were colored soaps. The elf girls' face held an inner warmth that reminded Ari much of her mother—her mother. Would she ever see her mother again? What about her father? What about Mia? The room suddenly began to spin out of control and she staggered slightly, letting out a breath as the Elf lord steadied her with a hand.
"Are you alright my child"? Concern was etched on Elronds' face. Arianna didn't have the heart to ask if she would ever see her family again. How could she? Even if she woke up on a hospital cot, what would she say? What would she do? How did one come back from being raped and—. She didn't want to dwell on the possibility that she may or may not be dead, so she simply plastered a look of exhaustion on her face and nodded.
"Yes my Lord. It's nothing," she lied. He gave her a penetrating stare for a short moment before releasing her. He motioned toward the servant and she strode forward, her kind smile dulled slightly in worry.
"You have suffered much, and I am sure you are tired and overwhelmed. I shall leave you now in the care of my daughters' servant, Aelae. She will see that you are well taken care of. I shall come for you in the morning. Until then, may your soul find peace". With that he lowered into a reverent bow, and with a flourish of his silver robes he turned and exited the room, the click of the door latch heralding his departure as the door closed behind him.
She and the elf stared at one another for a long moment before either of them spoke. It was Aelae that broke the quiet first. "I am Aelae. It is an honor to meet a child of the Valar," she said brightly as she knelt into a deep curtsy.
"A child of the—wait, you think I'm a demigod"? Arianna could not restrain the snort of laughter that emanated from her. Aelae looked confused and a bit worried, which quited Ari's reaction some, but not much. "I am not of the Valar," she corrected.
"But you possess the marks of one touched by the Valar, and your wings. No ordinary human could possess such beautiful symbols of divinity," Aelae reasoned, her brows knitting together in confusion.
"My tattoos"? Ari looked down at the masterful scroll work that adorned her arms and shoulders. She had gotten them done when her grandmother had passed away two years prior. Her grandmother had been a weird combination of spiritual and whimsical, all at the same time. She had been very close to her grandmother, who had sported her own tendrils of ink. Ari's mother nearly broke down in tears when Ari had come home with a pattern of vines, flowers, and swirls adorning her. "You look just like mom did at your age," she had sobbed, pulling her into a tight hug. Ari had always thought it totally surreal that her mother hadn't reacted to the tattoos like most parents. Now she ran her hands over the skin of her arm appreciatively. "I got these in honor of my grandmother". Aelae's eyes widened in surprise.
"You mean you marked yourself like this?"
"Yep," said Ari, popping the "p".
"And what of the wings?"
"Those-," Ari began. "You know, I'm not really sure where they came from. I just woke up and had wings," she replied honestly. Aelae gave a knowing smile.
"You have been touched by the Valar, whether you believe it or not". Ari rolled her eyes, deciding to change the subject. She motioned to the basin in Aelae's arms.
"Are those for me"? Aelae nodded, walking across the room to a set of drapes, which she pulled back to reveal a gleaming brass tub. Water glistened in the evening light that cascaded through the open balcony door. Aelae set the basin down next to the tub and motioned for Arianna to come to her. Arianna complied, but backed away when Aelae knelt down and began pulling up Ari's gown.
"Woah! What are you doing"? Aelae looked confused.
"I am undressing you," she replied evenly, as if it were the most normal thing in the world to undress some random girl you didn't know.
"I am perfectly capable of undressing myself, thanks, but I appreciated the gesture". Aelae's eyes sparkled as she let out a soft, tinkling laugh. The sound stunned Arianna. Who knew elfin laughter was so musical? Motioning for Aelae to face away from her, Ari pulled the thin gown over her head and gingerly stepped into the tub. The water was hot. When had they filled the tub? Ari shrugged, the stress of so much new information melting away as the water penetrated her sleep sore muscles. After a moment, and much convincing on Aelae's part, Arianna allowed the elf to wash her back, her earlier apprehension fading as she witnessed Aelae's professionalism. All was quiet for a time before Ari decided to break the ice again.
"Aelae is such a beautiful name. Does it mean anything"? Aelae smiled.
"It means night whisper," she replied.
"That is awesome," Ari replied.
"Arianna is quite a beautiful name as well. Would you tell me its meaning?"
"It means pure, or holy". Aelae laughed once more.
"And you say you are not the chosen of the Valar. Your name says it all dear one". Ari sighed and gazed out at the fading light. Was she the chosen of the Valar? She didn't feel any different. She felt like a 21 year old girl. The slight brush of Aelae's shoulder against one of Ari's wings made her shiver. Maybe she was not so ordinary as before. The water soon became tepid and Aelae, with the greatest care for Ari's modestly, helped her out of the tub, allowing Ari to dry herself before presenting Ari with a fresh night gown. The crisp fabric made Arianna feel warm and utterly relaxed, and as Aelae helped her into bed, Ari could not help but hug the elf, who stood momentarily stunned at the contact, but who did eventually return the hug. "I will be just outside the door. If you need anything, call for me. I will hear and come to you," she said, smiling as she gathered the basin and the soiled gown before heading to the door.
"Aelae—thank you," Said Arianna. Aelae gave another of her glowing smiles and curtsied slightly before exiting the room. Arianna laid back and sank into the warmth of her bed, staring up at the starry celling, her eyes growing heavy as she tried to trace patterns in the artificial stars, before she finally succumbed to sleep.
She dreamt that a gentle voice called to her as she ran through billows of mist and fog. Ari had no idea if she was running towards the voice or away from it. It seemed to echo from every direction. The voice was nearly a whisper, the words unrecognizable, but there was a feel to the whispers that caused a mixture of determination and terror to ripple through her body. She moved steadily faster as she searched for the source of the mysterious whisperer, her eyes glancing around frantically and finding nothing. Abruptly she burst through the fog, narrowly avoiding a plummet over the edge of a vast chasm. She steadied herself for a moment, a sense of vertigo overtaking her as she stared down into the black abyss below—then a tiny glimmer materialized. It began to intensify in its brilliance until Ari realized it was flying upwards to meet her. She stared in awe as the faceted object raced towards her, slowing in its trajectory until it hung lazily before her. From the corner of her eye another faint glimmer caught her attention and she glanced to her left. A distant shore gleamed beneath a setting sun as twilight approached. More brilliant than the shimmering water blazed the same object as that which hovered before her face, this object also racing towards her at incredible speeds.
After a moment the second object began to slow until it came to rest beside the first. Ari lifted her hand hesitantly and reached out for the two glowing stones—they were stones—she had deduced that much. Carved into light refracting facets, these two stones shamed every other jewel she had ever seen. Her fingers drew closer to them, but she had just barley grazed the first jewel with her index finger when an explosion of light above her head drew her attention upward. Yet another of these strange and wondrous objects was speeding, meteor-like from the heavens, and like its siblings, it too moved with purpose. It began to slow and soon joined its companions. Ari stared in disbelief as the three stones hovered side by side, each glowing with its own miraculous inner light. Again she reached forward, now with both hands, and drew the stones to her. The moment she touched them their inner light exploded with a blinding glow, the world around her fading in a wash of luminous radiance.
Ari woke with a start, squinting into the glare of the early morning sun as it poured into the room. Movement to her left caught her attention and she glanced over, locking eyes with Aelae who paused mid step, a series of green fabrics draped over her arms.
"Did I wake you milady"? Arianna shook her head, letting this new reality settle around her, dispelling the mist and light fill dream world she had just encountered. Aelae's warm smile was nearly contagious as she stepped forward, placing the fabric she had been cradling onto Ari's bed. Ari's brows rose.
"Is that a dress?" she asked incredulously, eying the delicate fabrics as if they were a venomous snake rather than a pile of clothes.
"They are Milady. The lord of Rivindell had his seamstresses up through the night making ready a wardrobe for you—though they had to adjust for your—um-," Aelae blushed profusely and mimed breasts. Arianna burst out in a fit of laughter at the elf's antics.
"You can say it Aelae. I have large breasts and a behind. It's ok,"
"I do not wish to offend you milady,"
"Offend me"? Aelae lowered her head in respect.
"Elves do not possess the same physical attributes as humans. All elves are lithe creatures. Curvaceous forms are purely human," she said matter-of-factly.
"What about hobbits and dwarves? They have curves,"
"Hobbits and dwarves are disproportional in height. Some may weigh the same as we do, but have half our height. This results in their stouter shape". Arianna cocked her head to the side, imagining a hobbit that was human height and nodded in agreement. She reached forward, pausing as she took hold of the dress.
"Wait a minute, how exactly did the seamstresses get my measurements?"
"I gave them your measurements milady,"
"How did you get my measurements?"
"Milady, I am nearly fifteen hundred years old. I am perfectly capable of gauging a woman's measurements without the crude and invasive tools used by humans,"
Ari sighed in exasperation, lifting up the green masterpiece that had been brought to her. Something ridged fell away from the dress, landing back on the bed.
"Is that a corset?" Ari asked in disbelief.
"Of course milady,"
Ari sighed and ran her fingers over the boned fabric. She did not wear dresses. She was not feminine in the modern sense of the word. She wore no makeup, she owned not a single pair of heels, she despised the color pink, and she hadn't worn a dress since her senior prom. Despite her reservations, she had to admit that this dress was probably the most beautiful piece of clothing she had ever laid eyes on. She reasoned that, one, Elrond had gone through a lot of trouble to see that she would be properly clothed, two, she was expected to dress the part if she wished to integrate into this society, and three, this gown before her was not a prom dress. She would just pretend she was going to a Renaissance festival or something. Ari slid out of bed and motioned for Aelae to turn around. With a knowing smile the elf face away as Ari slid out of her night gown. The forest green dress slid over her frame with the greatest of ease, caressing her skin in its satin and embroidered sheer silk overlay, the enormous bell sleeves nearly touching the ground. Not being able to resist the urge to spin, she twirled on a circle, marveling at the elegant flow of the gown. After a moment she picked up the corset and placed her arms through the proper places. She turned in a circle like a dog chasing its tail, trying to figure out how she was going to lace the thing up.
"That's what I am hear for milady". Arianna looked up at Aelae, noticing the barely restrained amusement she attempted to conceal. Shrugging sheepishly Ari turned around, allowing the elf to lace up her corset. When that was done she was led to a vanity, hidden behind another set of drapes that lined the wall. She sat at her vanity as the she-elf ran a comb through her hair before styling it in traditional elven fashion. Her dark brown tresses were left down, save for two strands, of which were woven into two separate braids that framed her face. As she sat, being babied by mythological creatures, she contemplated once more what she had gotten herself into. She let her line of thought drop off. She had avoided the memories that had brought her here, but they had left her scared. She knew that Rivendell consisted of more than Lord Elrond and Aelae, and she feared her emotional response to being in public so soon after her ordeal. What if she went all damsel in distress and started bawling in front of the council? Ari paled at the thought. To make matters worse, Elrond had declined her request for a weapon, stating that, within the walls of Rivendell, she would not be harmed. Most likely he was worried about her stabbing any male who got too close.
She had just finished slipping into the green silk slippers that had come with her gown when there came a firm knock on the door. Arianna gazed at the door for a moment nodding to Aelae, who strode over to the door, opening it. Lord Elrond strode gracefully into the room. When he caught sight of her a warm smile graced his delicate lips and his dark eyes twinkled with a measure of delight Arianna had not thought he possessed.
"The men of Middle Earth are in for quite an upset—you look as radiant as the dawn." he commented. Arianna's face fell a little. She did not want to be stared at. She wanted to be ignored, but time was of the essence, and she could not let her fear stop her from keeping her promise. Elrond's kind smile faltered as well, and he gently took her into his arms. "Are you ready to attend the council?" He asked. Arianna nodded, and, together, they left her room, bound for the courtyard.
Elrond stood proudly before the council, endowed with all of the grace his ancestry entailed; looking over the faces of those who had come. Gandalf and Frodo along with a small congregation of men, elves and dwarves, sat in a semi-circle around a stone pedestal. Arianna sat on the stone steps which elevated Elrond's throne. She was more nervous than she had ever been in her entire life. The moment she had walked into the circle, every pair of eyes had fallen on her, and widened, which made her feel very out of place. Now I know what a goldfish feels like, she thought to herself. These men acted as if they had never seen a woman at a council before. Maybe they hadn't. It wasn't like she had three heads or anything. Then it hit her. Oh yeah—the wings—I forgot, she thought sheepishly. Those were going to take some getting used to—and judging from the faces of the council members, she wasn't the only one who would need to get used to the sight. Elrond took a deep breath and began.
"Strangers from distant lands—friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle-Earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate—this one doom." Said Lord Elrond, gesturing to the pedestal. "Bring forth the Ring, Frodo." He commanded gravely. Frodo rose and laid the Ring upon the pedestal in the center of the chamber before returning to his seat. He looked up and locked eyes with Arianna. Her eyes widened as a wave of images and emotions filled her—all from him. What was that about? It was as if she had had been watching the entirety of his life on a movie reel, sped up until all of the images blurred in her mind. Her heart went out to him—this humble yet adventurous soul who would be destined to sail away to distant shores. One who did not know the price he was to pay for his bravery. The unbridled whispering woke Arianna from her trance and her gaze left Frodo's.
"So it's true," said Boromir from his seat, his eyes transfixed on the ring, in an almost unnatural way. Arianna was witness to the sad truth that Boromir had been ensnared by the ring before the journey had even begun. One of the men of Laketown had only disapproving words to say about the sight of the ring. This immediately got Boromir's attention. He shook his head in disagreement. "It is a gift—a gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring?" said Boromir, now on his feet, pacing as he talked. "Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay! By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe! Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him!"
"You cannot wield it! None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master," said a man at the other end of the group. As he settled back into his seat his eyes met hers. Arianna smiled and nodded reverently at him, and he nodded respectful back at her. It was Lord Aragorn, the future king of Gondor. Arianna was still astounded that she was really here, in Middle Earth, surrounded by legends. It was more than she could have ever wished for, and she was practically fangirling inside.
The argument continued on as it had. Arianna shook her head in disappointment. She thought that these men would have been more mature in reality, but unfortunately, she had been wrong. The disagreement had turned into a full blown argument. Growing bored with the men's quarreling, Arianna glanced at the ring sitting on the stone pedestal. The moment Arianna laid her eyes on the ring she felt pain so intense in her head; she briefly wondered how her skull could take the pressure. She let out a shrill scream and fell from her seat to the ground, breaking into a fit of convulsions. Visions flashed through her mind at what felt like the speed of light. She caught a glimpse of Sauron, not in the form of a fire wreathed eye, but as he had been when the one ring had been cut from his finger by Aragorn's ancestor, Isildur. Next to him stood a man dressed in fine black robes. Her eyes gave him a cursory glance. There was a flicker of recognition and then her blood turned to ice. It was him. It was Aiden. This world had altered him somewhat, but the malice she saw in his eyes terrified her. He looked, not at her; but through her. She would never forget that look. It was the look he had given her the night he had attacked her. Now it felt almost as if he was looking into her soul, and it made her feel more vulnerable than she ever believed possible. His gaze became a sinister smirk that sent a chill down her spine. His lips parted and his grin grew more feral. "Welcome to my world, Arianna," his silken voice called. Arianna's world went spinning in a blur of fire and smoke and then— everything faded to black.
She woke in her room. Beyond the open balcony doors twilight had come to Rivendell, and there was a cool breeze blowing from the outside. The pain she had felt was gone, yet the visions of Aiden still haunted her thoughts, refusing to be silenced. She sat up slowly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her normal clothes were gone, and in their place was a sleeveless, silvery elven night gown. Her long brown hair fell around her shoulders and cascaded down her back. Arianna felt eyes on her and glanced around the room. There, in the far corner of the room, sat an elf; his face half hidden in the evening shadows.
"Mani naa essa en lle? (What are you doing here?)" She asked in alarm. Since she had arrived, she had been alone with no man other than Elrond. This unknown intruders' presence made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and she moved to the opposite end of the bed from where he sat. The elf stood and moved into the light. Arianna's sage colored eyes widened in surprise and wonder.
"Legolas! What are you doing here?" she exclaimed, relaxing slightly. Legolas' face was impassive as he bowed in a stately manner, clearing his throat.
"Lady Arianna, when you fainted Lord Elrond brought you here and told me to guard you until you awoke—Lle tyava quel?(Do you feel well?)" he asked. Arianna nearly melted at the silkiness of his voice as it caressed his native tongue, but she quelled her happiness—after all, he was an elf prince and she—was—what? Mortal? Damaged goods? It didn't matter anyway. She didn't want anyone that way ever again—not after what she had been through.
"I feel much better. Thank you for staying with me Legolas. I wouldn't have expected Elrond to send you to watch over me." she said gratefully.
"I volunteered My Lady. I wished to meet the strange creature who attended Elrond's secret council. Strangers never would have been permitted in the past, but I guess many things are changing," Legolas replied. Creature?! She wasn't strange, and even if she was, look who was talking! At least she didn't look like a Kebler elf—well—he didn't either but that was beside the point. He was being rude and Arianna did not play well with assholes, especially considering her circumstances.
"First of all, I am not a creature. I am human, and second, why wouldn't you expect a—me to be there? I had just as much right to be there as you did. I live here too you know," she said in an argumentative tone. "Sort of—," she added sheepishly to herself. Legolas' eyes widened at her surly attitude.
"Did you? I meant no disrespect milady—it was just surprising that Elrond would let you, a stranger, sit in on a secret council and yet his own daughter did not warrant an invitation,"
"I'm sure Lady Arwen has more important things to do than listen to a bunch of grown men bicker like children over the fate of the world, and in any case, what business is it of yours why I was there?" Arianna replied heatedly.
"It is my business because I wish to know what was so special about you that Elrond allowed you to listen in on the council after knowing you for less than three days. You walk as if you carry a secret. As if you are hiding something. You could be a spy of Sauron for all we know." Tears pricked the corners of Arianna's eyes, but she forced them back. She would not let him break her that easily.
"First I'm a strange creature and now I'm a spy? Yes, I have secrets. Everyone does! You have no right to assume anything about me! What I have been through, I wouldn't wish upon anyone! How dare you presume to know me! If you are the making of an elf king, then this world is lost already!" she yelled indignantly. Her wings bristled in agitation behind her. Legolas looked taken aback by her words for a moment, before a slow anger crept into his perfect features.
"You forget your place girl, yet you have successfully evaded the question. Who are you?" he demanded, eyeing her partially tucked wings. It momentarily occurred to Arianna to tell him that she was the savior of the world, but it sounded corny and sort of megalomaniacal if your last name wasn't Christ and your last known address wasn't 'the cross' so she just remained silent. When Arianna didn't answer, Legolas continued. "In times such as these, strangers cannot be trusted—and if I find that your allegiance is not totally ours, you will die at my hands," He said menacingly.
"I'm not afraid of you, you arrogant piece of horse shit!" said Arianna defiantly. That did it. Legolas rounded on her, grabbing her by her upper arm. His grip was tight for someone Arianna had thought to be gentle, sans battlefield of course.
"You're hurting me!" Arianna hissed, attempting to pry her arm out of his grip. The effort was futile. Legolas glowered at her, his grasp unchanging. Her arm was starting to throb painfully. She looked into his eyes and the anger she saw there triggered something. Arianna stopped tugging against his grip and surrendered herself. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. "Please—not again—no—please," she whimpered. She began to sob, her wings folding around her protectively, shielding her from his gaze. The change in her demeanor disarmed him and he released her. Once her arm was free, she completely enfolded herself in her wings, which trembled with her quiet sobs. Instinct drove Legolas to reach out to her, but when his fingertips brushed her feathered wings, Arianna cringed. "Please—don't hurt me anymore," she whispered. Legolas withdrew his hand as if he had been burned. He had lost his temper with this girl. She had provoked him, but what he had done—it was inexcusable, and she—she was afraid of him. When Lord Elrond heard of what had happened he would be severely punished. Arianna's sobs subsided, and after a few more minutes, she slowly unfurled her wings. Legolas moved to put a hand on her shoulder, but she caught the movement in the corner of her eye and scrambled away from him. Legolas slowly retracted his hand.
"I—my lady I am deeply sorr—,"
"Go away,"
Legolas took a long slow breath, then turned and left the room. He closed the door, then leaned back against it. He stayed there for another half hour, listening to Arianna's muffled sobs.
Arianna had confined herself to her room the following day, having no intention of ever leaving it, until she was summoned by Lord Elrond that evening. Night had fallen by the time she had left for Lord Elrond's study. As she walked through the gardens she looked up at the sky. There were so many stars. She assumed the reason why she could see them so clearly was because there wasn't enough light in this world to dim them. She tried to find the familiar constellations that she had seen in her own world, but she didn't recognize a single one. Was this world so far away from her own that it had a different sky? Arianna was so busy looking up that she didn't notice the person in her path. She walked right into him and was about to fall backwards when he caught her hand. "Are you alright my lady?" asked Aragorn as he helped her to stand erect once more.
"I'm fine. Are you ok?" she asked looking up at him. He smiled and nodded before looking at her questioningly.
"Everything seems to be in order—you're the girl from the council are you not?" he asked, eyeing her wings curiously. Arianna nodded, giving him a halfhearted smile. "You gave us quite a scare little one. Are you sure you are well enough to be wandering?" He asked.
"I feel fine, but thank you for your concern my lord, and I wasn't wandering. I've been summoned to see Lord Elrond," she said. Aragorn's brow rose.
"Well, then far be it from me to deter you my lady,"
"Arianna,"
"Pardon me?,"
"My name is Arianna," she restated. The ranger's smile grew broad and he swept into a low bow.
"Well, Lady Arianna, I shall bid you good evening". Without realizing it, Ari found herself curtsying in return, her eyes lowered.
"I wish you the same my Lord. Be well" she replied, and with that she walked briskly past him, towards Lord Elrond's personal chambers.
As she walked in, Arianna was greeted by Lord Elrond, who seemed to have a rather grave look etched across his features. He looked her over appraising her state for a moment before speaking.
"I assume by your reaction to the site of the ring, that you felt the presence of Sauron, did you not?' he asked sternly. Arianna looked down at her feet and nodded. She had thought for sure he was going to talk to her about what had happened with Legolas, but Lord Elrond simply nodded his head in understanding and continued.
"Did you see his accomplice?" he asked. She stiffened, nodded her head once again. Lord Elrond sighed before sitting back in his seat and looking at her. "Arianna, you must know that by allowing Sauron and his accomplice into your mind they now know where you are. Soon it will no longer be safe for you here. Time grows short for us. The wheels of fate have begun to turn and I cannot stop them. Sauron will do everything in his power to find you know, even if it means burning Rivendell to the ground," he said, sitting back in his chair, a weary look shadowing his proud features.
Arianna stood silent. She remembered Sarumans' seeing glass and Pippins encounter with Sauron. It had not taken her long to deduce that if she had seen him, Sauron had also seen her. "I did not wish for this to happen so soon. I thought that we would have more time—but it seems as if fate has other plans for you my child" Arianna looked at him intently but said nothing. "My task to you is to follow the fellowship in secret. Protect the ring bearer, and help the others as much as you can, but do not let them know you travel with them. It will be safer for them and for you if no one suspects that you and the one ring are in the same place.
I have deduced from council with Galadriel that the bulk of your power is elemental. In the few days before the fellowship departs, I will attempt to teach you how to begin harnessing your powers and help you learn to use your wings. I dare say that this will be easier said than done, since I do not know your full potential, but I shall do my best to ready you for the trials ahead. Now my child, get some rest—we have a long day ahead, and time is of the essence.
Arianna awoke and looked around her room. Light had just started to grace the sky. It had been three days since Lord Elrond had asked to meet her in his study and since then he had taught her how to fly, which had been awkward to say the least. It had taken her three hours just to get off of the ground, but Elrond had been extraordinarily patient with her and eventually she had gotten the hang of flight. She also had a basic handle on two of the four elements. Lord Elrond made it clear that being able to control the elements was a basic skill taught to wizards, and was most helpful and easiest for him to teach, but that manipulation of elements was not the full extent of what she could do. Creation, she was told, was her gift, though she didn't quite understand what that meant. All she knew was that when she fully understood the source of her power she would be able to fulfill her purpose. Arianna looked around anxiously for her clothes for the day. Today she started her combat training, sword play, and archery so she wanted to get up bright and early to start practicing. She had traded the flowing fabric of her night gown for black leggings and a forest green haltered bodice. Elrond ordered that all of her clothing be altered to allow for her wings. She had replaced her tattered old Chuck Taylors with a pair of supple, brown leather boots which hugged her legs to the knees.
By the time Arianna had bathed, clothed, and groomed, the sun had risen. She walked down to the training field where she was met by Aragorn and, to her stunned surprise, Legolas. She had not seen Legolas since the night they had argued, and she would have preferred if it had stayed that way. Seeing him here now, eying her appreciatively, she felt instantly self-conscious about her attire. She had let down her long brown hair and though her bodice covered her chest, the light breeze against her back and shoulders made her feel overexposed. She walked up to Aragorn and took his hand, curtsying prettily, before turning to Legolas who eyed her wordlessly. This is going to be fun, she thought to herself with all of the sarcasm she could muster. Arianna inhaled a breath and broke into another curtsy, "Prince Legolas" she said, addressing him as formally as she possibly could, her eyes never meeting his. After an awkward silence Aragorn nudged Legolas.
"My lady," he responded stiffly.
"Well my lady, it seems as if Lord Elrond wishes you to learn how to battle. I will give you the choice, which skill would you like to learn first?" asked Aragorn.
"Sword play seems to be the hardest," Arianna stole a glance at Legolas, who had removed his quiver and was now examining the shaft of one of his arrows. "I mean, how hard is it to point an arrow and shoot?" she asked in a somewhat bored tone of voice. Legolas' head snapped up from his assessment and his gaze met hers. He narrowed his eyes at her. In answer the corner of her mouth twitched, revealing for a split second a sly and slightly mocking smirk. She hadn't forgotten their quarrel the other night, and she intended to repay him for how he had treated her. Aragorn looked from Arianna to Legolas and back again before slowly shaking his head.
"Do I want to know?" his question was meant for Legolas.
"Se ná-faica, Aragorn (she is contemptible, Aragorn)". A wry smile tugged at Legolas' lips as he spoke.
"Náca-nin (bite me)," Said Arianna defiantly. She hadn't known if that phrase would resonate in this world, and by the looks on Aragorn and Legolas' faces it seemed as if her comeback had gone over their heads. She rolled her eyes. "How's this? Im feuya le Legolas (I hate you Legolas)," The elf's face faltered and he opened his mouth to retort when Aragorn held up a hand.
"I have no idea what this is about, but it needs to be resolved. We have far too many enemies already, and need not look for them amongst friends," he said calmly, before turning back to Arianna. "Let us begin".
Two hours later Arianna ached from head to foot. It felt as if her bruises had bruises, yet even though her body was screaming at her, she refused show weakness. Legolas had watched from beneath a tree as Aragorn had instructed her on proper stance and attack positions. Later he had moved to defensive stances and blocking, where he had come at her again and again from different angles that she was to block. She landed on her back a few times, eliciting almost inaudible chuckles from the elf, which only drove Arianna's need to excel. She had done fairly well for her first time with a sword. Aragorn had patted her on the back and told her that the first lesson was always the hardest and that it would grow easier over the next few days. "Now," he said looking to Legolas. "It's your turn to teach Legolas". Arianna's eyes widened with bewilderment and fear. What kind of divine cosmic joke was this?
"I thought you were going to teach me archery as well,"
"Legolas is a far better instructor than I. He has been skilled with a bow for more than a millennium and a half. You would be wise to accept his help". Legolas had moved from beneath the shade of his tree to stand next to Aragorn. He stepped towards Arianna and held out his hand, palm up.
"I hope you will excuse my earlier rudeness and allow me to instruct you Lady Arianna". She thought his words sounded stiff and somewhat forced. It amazed her how well he could restrain himself from being a prick. If only she had that kind of control. Arianna looked at his hand skeptically for a moment before placing her hand in his. He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it gently. Arianna thought she saw the briefest of smiles as his lips met her skin. A warm tingling sensation ran from her hand throughout her body and made her shiver. It was imperceptible to Aragorn but Legolas had clearly felt her reaction to his kiss because he held her hand just a little too long after he had kissed it. Aragorn looked up at the sun.
"If you will excuse me, I have a prior engagement I must attend to. I shall return later to see your progress, then maybe—if you're still standing, we can begin hand to hand combat training," he said with a bright smile. Arianna watched as he bowed and turned, walking back up the path towards the gardens.
"Let's get this over with," she said exasperatedly, turning to the elf who nodded in acquiescence. Legolas led her from the smaller combat area to the much larger archery grounds. At one end of the range stood a rack of training bows and a multiple quivers of arrows. Legolas seemed to measure Arianna up before retrieving a long bow and quiver from the rack.
"The long bow is appropriate for beginners because it gives the archer more control," he said, handing the bow to Arianna. He placed the quiver of arrows on the ground behind them. "At first you should try it without the quiver. You can put it on after you've mastered the basics". Arianna nodded stiffly. Legolas handed her an arrow. "Let me see your stance," he commanded, though in a calmer tone than she was expecting. She nodded again and brought the bow up in her left hand, her thumb protruding to serve as a rest for the arrow's shaft. She strung the bow and, putting the groove at the tale of the arrow against the bow string, she pulled back on the bow string but did not release. For a moment he said nothing. She looked over to see if he was still there and gasped loudly when she turned to her left and their noses almost touched.
He had been studying her posture and was now gazing at her, a thin, wry smile on his face. "It's not a bad start, but you need to change some things if you hope to hit the target", he commented. Arianna growled inwardly at the backhanded compliment. Legolas moved to touch her and she flinched away involuntarily. He froze, his features both serious and also seeming to radiate a tremendous amount of guilt. "I'm not going to hurt you. I promise," he said. Arianna was silent, her eyes lowering to her arm, where a greenish-yellow bruise marred her chestnut skin; the outline of his fingers still clearly visible. His eyes followed hers and he gently ran his fingers across the mark he had inflicted. Arianna shuddered as a prickling of electricity ran down her spine. He felt her slight tremor and shifted his hand from her bruised arm to the hand that held the bow. He repositioned her hand on the grip and his other hand guided her right elbow downward. "Lower your elbow a little more. Good. Now, back straight, shoulders relaxed". He stood closer to her and placed his hands on her hips, turning her body a fraction more to the side. Arianna's mind flooded with confusion. Part of her did not like the way his hands felt on her, while a much larger part of her reveled in the gentle caress of his hands on her hips. To her body it was as if the other night had never happened—as if she had never been raped. Her knees were becoming the constancy of Jell-O and a warm tingling sensation was building in the pit of her stomach. After their argument in her room she had wanted nothing to do with him, but her body—well—it had other ideas. "Now, take a deep breath and hold it," said the elf, his voice closer to her. She obeyed but was struggling to concentrate on the target. Her mind was beginning to get hazy and for a moment she wondered if she might pass out. He was now so close to her that she could smell him. A sweet mixture of fresh rain and a mossy, earthy richness she could not place. It was all she could do not to lean into him.
"And, release," he said softly in her ear. His warm breath tickled her ear and neck. The shot was horribly wide and the arrow wound up lodged in a tree ten feet to the left of the target. Arianna dropped the bow, wrenched herself from his grasp, and walked quickly back up the path the way she had come. She had almost reached the combat area when she felt a gentle hand take her by her lower left arm. He spun her around to face him and she dropped her eyes, unable to look into that anxious face. "My lady. I'm sorry if I offended you. I was only attempting to help," he said. "And if it's about earlier, allow me to apologize. I didn't mean to offend you as I did,"
"That's not it,"
"Then is it what happened the other night? I lost my temper—I mean no offence but you can be infuriating". Arianna lifted her eyes and cocked her head to the side.
"That was the worst apology I've ever heard,"
"It wasn't an apology,"
"I'd hope not, and anyway, that's not it either,"
"What else have I done?"
"You—," Arianna paused, maneuvering her arm out of his grasp. "We all have secrets my lord. Some are best left buried. Let's just leave it at you make me uncomfortable," she said with a sigh. "I think I just need to stop for today. I'll see you tomorrow," she said, and with that Arianna trudged up the path leading to her room. Legolas did not follow.
The sun was setting as Aragorn, Arianna and Legolas walked down the long corridors of Rivindell to their rooms. It had been 5 days since Arianna had first begun her training, and though she was not the best at hand to hand combat, probably due to the fact that Aragorn had been her opponent; she found that she was proficient in sword play and a fairly decent archer. It was discovered quite quickly that elven blades, rather than a larger and more cumbersome sword would better aid Arianna's style of fighting. Once Arianna was introduced to two handed sword play, her lethality rose exponentially. Despite her earlier conflicts with the elf prince, they had formed a tentative friendship, though Arianna still shivered at his touch, with fear or desire, she did not know. She tried to avoid it, and eye contact as much as possible, but was surprised at how many legitimate reasons there were for him to touch her. Things had gotten uncomfortable during hand to hand combat training. Having earned a red belt in Judo, she easily defended against Aragorn's attacks, so the ranger had suggested Arianna try to defend against two attackers. Arianna found it difficult to defend against both Aragorn and Legolas, and Legolas' swift movements had her on the ground within seconds, though he never laughed. After their first training session, the elf had refrained from mocking her, which Arianna greatly appreciated.
She had tried everything to diffuse the situation, but the unspoken tension between them was palpable. What was worse was that she really did not have time for that kind of distraction. The fellowship was to leave the next day, and unbeknownst to them, Arianna was to accompany them. That evening after dinner, Legolas walked Arianna to her room.
"Gandalf isn't human?!"
"Of course not. His great age should be proof of that," Legolas replied.
"I understand that, but I thought his age was a product of being a wizard," said Arianna.
"In a way it is. He is of the Miar, which gives him his magic and prolongs his life," Arianna looked out at the city as they came to her door.
"There is so much of this world I thought I understood—," she trailed off. Legolas had placed a hand on her shoulder. Arianna turned to look at him and saw the look of regret etched on his face.
"Lady Arianna—I am sorry for what I said to you a few days ago. I should have known that Lord Elrond would never have let you come to the council if he didn't trust you—and for your arm," he continued, gently caressing the rapidly disappearing bruise he had marked her with. His touch sent a now familiar electric current racing through her. "Will you please forgive me?"
Arianna could not stop herself. She tentatively reached up, cupped his cheek with her hand, and kissed him tenderly on the lips. She pulled back to see the surprise written on his face.
"U-moe edaved, Legolas(There is nothing to forgive, Legolas)". Returning to her senses, Arianna quickly turned to open her door. She felt his cool hand in hers. Legolas spun her back to face him. His hands found her hips and brought her closer to him. Arianna's heart exploded into a gallop. She knew that there had been something unspoken between them, but she had thought it something less—friendly. She did not expect this kind of reaction to a brief kiss, especially considering the earlier animosity between them. Legolas watched her intently for a moment before he spoke.
"If I've done anything to make you think I do not value your friendship, please know that I no longer feel any ill will towards you,"
"I-it wasn't all you. I deserved it," she replied. Legolas looked at her, astonished.
"Is that why you didn't tell Lord Elrond what I did to you? Because you thought you deserved it?" he asked. Arianna looked away and shrugged. "I've had worse," the words were out before she could think. Legolas' expression darkened.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't worry about it,"
"Tell me now. Do not lie to me". His voice was stern. He had given her a command. Arianna closed her eyes. Could she trust him? Her heart told her she could, but the doubt lingered. Still, she spoke.
"Not long before you met me, a man attacked me, and he—," she could not continue. She waited for more questions, for accusations, for him to walk away from her, but there was only silence. After a moment she glanced up at him and she startled. Legolas' face was a mask of anger, pain, and guilt. Arianna tried to take a step back, but he wouldn't let her go. Finally he spoke.
"There are no words for what I've done—,"
"I told you it's ok, I deser—,"
"Don't you ever say that again!" he whispered fiercely. Arianna flinched at a hard edge in his voice. It didn't go unnoticed. Legolas caressed her face, pale and perfect in the moonlight. "I will never hurt you like that, do you understand Arianna? Never."
"You—called me by my name" she replied, taken aback. A look of confusion crossed his face. "I mean—you've never called me by just my name before—there's usually some title attached like 'Lady' or something—never just my name," she continued.
"Does that trouble you?" he asked warily.
"No—no, I like it." she trailed off into silence. Legolas smiled slightly and his hold on her hips grew more firm. Arianna found herself resting her hands on his upper arms, unconsciously marveling in the strength she felt there beneath his tunic. Her mind was screaming at her that this was not a good idea but her body was telling her mind to shut the hell up. Legolas smiled kindly at her. He leaned down and his lips brushed hers softly. Her eyes closed and she let out a gentle sigh. He pulled her to him and kissed her tenderly, his hands slowly rising up her waist over her arms and shoulders, his touch sending tingles across her exposed skin. He wound his hands in her hair and deepened the kiss. Arianna took her mouth from his, gasping. "Why are you doing this to me?" she asked breathlessly. Legolas blinked, momentarily stunned.
"Do you wish me to stop?"
"No!" Arianna said breathlessly. His smile grew warmer and he leaned down, his lips just grazing her ear.
"Then think of this as—cementing our friendship," he said huskily. His breath tickled her ear and she inhaled sharply. Legolas' lips found her neck, his lips forging a path of fire down her neck to her chest. Arianna whimpered beneath Legolas' attentions, and when he began to caress one of her breasts through the fabric of her gown, Arianna moaned audibly.
"Legolas, please—this is a bad idea," she groaned, pulling away from him. He released her, his senses becoming clearer the farther she moved from him. What had he done? He had seduced a human, worse, he had practically forced himself on a girl. True she did not try to resist him, but she herself had told him that she had been compromised, and no mortal could resist the charms of elf kind. Why had he persisted? Arianna backed into her door, her hands fumbling to find the knob as she stared at him in shock and disbelief. Legolas watched her carefully, a pang of guilt racking him as he registered the fear and apprehension that clouded her features. She finally managed to force her door open and her gaze fell on the ground. Legolas' expression faltered only a moment before he regained his composure. Resisting the urge to go to her, he simply gave a graceful bow.
"Goodbye my lady". With that he turned from her and continued down the corridor. Arianna slipped into her room, shut the door and put her back against it. She had no idea what to think of him. One day he was threatening her and the next he was—.She blushed, the memory of his lips and hands still fresh, her body still reeling from his touch. All she truly understood was that things between them had changed.
It was nearing dawn when Arianna awoke to an astonishing site. At the foot of her bed lay a large assortment of clothes and weaponry. Her attire consisted of a short, brown leather warrior's skirt and forest green bodice and tunic, both of which were endowed with silver embroidery and trimming; dark green leggings, and brown leather boots. A silver circlet encrusted with rich, dark emeralds lay close by. Next to her cloths lay her weapons. There lay a bow, which looked much like Legolas's, but was made with red oak and had a dark cherry finish. Arianna shook the thought of the elf prince from her mind. She had far more important things to concern herself with that the erratic behavior of wood elves. Words of the ancient tongue were carved into the wood of the bow. Next to the bow lay the most beautiful and imposing daggers Arianna had ever laid eyes on. The polished tangs rested within ivory hilts. On each were the most intricate curling designs she had ever seen on a weapon. As she scanned the gifts, she noticed a sliver of white protruding from the mouth of the bows' quiver. She reached for it. It was a note. Her mouth fell open at the words that were scrolled therein.
My Lady,
I had these daggers and bow repurposed for you from an old set of my own. I do hope these gifts will be taken as a token of my sincerest apologies for my less than Princely behavior towards you. I would be more than happy to help you train with these implements when I return if you are still a guest of Rivindell. Until then be safe and know that you will always have a friend in me.
Legolas
Her stomach fluttered and goosebumps raised on her arms as she caressed the bow and daggers. They were his. She deduced that, belonging to the Prince of an elven realm, the weapons of the royal class were extremely rare, painstakingly crafted, and very very valuable. Arianna stared from the note to the weapons in awe. Legolas—had given her his weapons, and more over he wanted to help her train with them. A blush crept into her cheeks as images of what sort of training might be taking place when he returned—then she paled when she remembered that she wouldn't be here waiting for him. She would be with him. Her anxiety grew as she realized that these were tools that she was going to need, and that she was only hours away from beginning the journey that would change her life forever.
By dawn she stood at her balcony, fully clothed, her hair pulled back into a thick braid, her circlet adorning her brow, and her weapons holstered. Aele was with her, fussing with the already emasculate bed coverings. Arianna eyed the elf. "What's wrong Aele?" she asked. The elf raised her head and Ari's eyes widened as she took in tears in the woman's eyes.
"I am sorry miss, I just—I worry for you. You say you are leaving and are dressed for a war. I am scared for you my lady—". Her voice trailed off and Arianna went to her, pulling the small woman into an embrace.
"It's going to be ok, I promise. I'll be ok," she said soothingly to the top of the elf's head, but as she said the words, she was struck by the realization that she might not be ok for very much longer. At that moment there was a knock at the door. Aele, pulling herself together went to it and let in the visitor. Lord Elrond moved gracefully across the room to join Arianna on the balcony. He stood there silently for a moment before speaking.
"My task to you is not an easy one". Ari glanced over at him to see his perfect mask falter slightly. She steeled herself. She had agreed to do this. She could do this.
'Yeah, well—as of late life hasn't exactly been a lazy river," she said, shrugging her shoulders in a nonchalant fashion. Elrond was not fooled by her bravado.
"I believe that you are powerful enough to overcome any darkness that you may encounter. With only the most rudimentary of understanding and training you have achieved more than most magi shall in a lifetime. The real test that lies before you is not that of physical endurance, though that will of course play a part—no—it is you inner strength—your courage that will decided the fate of this world". Arianna smiled. No book or movie could ever do Elrond justice. "Journey now with the fellowship and protect the one ring at all costs until it is destroyed. Continue your training. Meditate often and build up the strength to wield your powers in better and more innovative ways. Once in Lothlorien, Lady Galadriel will receive you and guide you along the rest of your journey. Go in peace my child, and may you find hope, even as darkness falls".
Elrond kissed her forehead and stood back from her, giving a reassuring nod. Arianna took a deep breath, a knot of anxiety twisting in her gut. She looked out into the quiet early morning. Dawn had broken over the valley, it's many falls glistening with a pink and orange brilliance, and the realm was all aglow with an ethereal morning light that took her breath away. It was time. She knew what she had to do, and she had the power to do it. With one last look at Elrond and a tentative wave at Aele, who had drawn a handkerchief from her dress and now dabbed her eyes, Arianna unfurled her massive wings, and with the soft flutter of feathers, she took flight and disappeared into the brilliant morning light.