Chapter 8 Arrival in Rivendell

A cool wind blew across her face as Mariell walked through the long grass. She felt at peace, happy.
"Mariell!" a woman's voice called her. Mariell turned and saw a lovely woman with long dark hair, identical to her own, standing a short distance away from her. The woman had pointed ears of an elf and wore a long white gown.
"Mariell!" the elf woman called again.
"I'm here!" Mariell yelled but the woman did not seem to notice her. Suddenly, a smile broke out on her face.
"Mama, Mama," a small voice said. Mariell watched in astonishment as a small child in a brown dress ran up to the woman. The child had dark hair and big dark eyes. She smiled as the woman bent down and picked her up.
"There you are my darling," the woman said to the child. Tears were forming in Mariell's eyes as she watched the two of them. There was so much love. She could feel it washing over her. Suddenly the woman and the child screamed as they were engulfed in flame. Mariell watched in terror as they burned. A great eye wreathed in flame appeared in the sky.
"MARIELL!" it hissed.

Mariell gasped as she bolted upright in her bedroll. What a terrible dream. Looking around her she saw that the hobbits were up and

eating. She crawled out of her bedroll and joined them. She saw that Strider was no longer with them.

"He went to have a look around," Sam told her.

"He does that a lot," Merry said. Mariell didn't answer. She hoped that he would come back soon. She didn't like the idea of being out

here. She sighed with relief when she saw him coming in the distance. "I hope you are all well rested. We have a long journey today."

Mariell's chest felt like it was going to explode. They had been running for almost a day. Sweat was pouring down her face and her legs

felt like jelly. She was certain that if they did not stop soon that she would collapse. "Behold, the gates of Rivendell," Strider said. Mariell

stopped, her mouth dropping in awe as she saw the high silver doors. There were two male elves standing in front of the gates.

"State your name and purpose in Rivendell," one of the elves said sharply to them. Mariell was startled. She hadn't expected such a cold

greeting.

"Let us in Taldar," Strider barked at the elf. "Do not make me tell your father you have been misbehaving." The elf guard's eyes widened.

"Forgive me, Estel. It has been a long time and I did not recognize you." He hurried to the gate and opened it, bowing to them as they

entered. Strider led the way with Mariell and the hobbits following close behind.

"What was that about?" she asked him.

"I've known Taldar a long time. Barely a thousand years old. I enjoy making him flustered"

"He called you Estel," Mariell said. "The name given to me by Lord Elrond. It means hope." Mariell had many more questions but she

kept them to herself as a dark haired lady in a long flowing white gown came up to them. It took Mariell a moment to realize that it was

Arwen. She looked so different.

"Frodo is all right," were the first words out of the elf maiden's mouth. Mariell breathed a sigh of relief.

"He is resting now," Arwen said. "You may see him in a short while but first I believe you could all use some food and clean clothes."

Mariell wanted to see Frodo but the offer of food was all to tempting. Arwen called to a few male elves and spoke to them in elvish.

"Gentlemen," she said to the hobbits, "Elladan and Elrohir will take you to get cleaned up. Mariell you can come with me." Mariell was

shocked that the elf knew her name. Strider had not addressed her by her name in Arwen's presence and surely Frodo was too ill to tell

Arwen.

"How did you know my name?" she asked as she followed the elf down a long hall, fascinated by the way she seemed to glide over the

ground without disturbing it. "Gandalf told me," Arwen said. Mariell stopped dead in her tracks.

"Gandalf?" she squeaked.

"Gandalf is here?" Arwen turned and nodded. "Yes, he arrived seven nights ago. He told us about all of you. That's why I went to search for you"

"Why didn't he meet us at Bree?" Mariell demanded. Arwen smiled patiently.

"That is a question that only he can answer. Come." Mariell was so confused. There were just too many things around her that she did

not understand and she did not like it one bit. Arwen pushed open a door to a large room. Mariell felt her mouth fall open. She had never
seen such a lovely room. The carpet was a rich burgundy and the large bed was four-poster with lovely white canopies draped over it. In

the other corner there was a large brass tub with steaming water in it.

"If you give me your clothes I will get them washed for you." Mariell was slightly startled. Did Arwen mean for her to strip right there in

front of her? It wasn't as though Mariell had never been naked with other girls but none of them as graceful and lovely as the Evenstar.

The elf seemed to sense her discomfort and turned away to give her some privacy. In a matter of seconds Mariell had stripped her

clothes off and was in the tub up to her chin. Arwen picked up her clothes and left. Mariell breathed a sigh of relief. She leaned back

against the tub and let the water soothe her sore muscles. She had nearly drifted off to sleep when Arwen came back in. "I brought one

of my gowns for you until your clothes are ready. I think it will fit. " Mariell tried not to groan. She hated wearing dresses but she did not

want to offend Arwen in her own home.

"I also have a salve here for your shoulder. Estel told me you dislocated it"

"That's really not necessary. My shoulder is fine." The truth was her shoulder was still very sore but Arwen had already done too much

for her. Not to mention what she had done for Frodo. "Perhaps not," Arwen said, "but I find it better not to argue with Estel when he

makes up his mind about something." Mariell nodded. She slowly stood up to get out of the tub and found Arwen standing with a towel.

"You really do not need to wait on me," Mariell said as Arwen wrapped the towel in her hands around her and led her to sit in a chair.

"My father asked me to do it," Arwen said, rubbing Mariell's hair with another towel, "besides it's not every day you meet a woman who
can fight off three Ringwraiths and live to tell about it." "Strider told you about that too?" Mariell asked.

"Yes," Arwen said, "I must say he was impressed. As am I. You are very brave my dear." Mariell shrugged. She sat quietly while Arwen
rubbed the salve into her shoulder. Mariell was impressed at how quickly it relieved the soreness. "Actually, I was hoping to speak to

your father. Strider, er, Estel, told me he might be able to tell me about this." Arwen placed the salve on the table and took the pendant in
her hand.

"Lineth del Pietra," she read the inscription. "Protect from the darkness"

"You can read it," Mariell said in shock." Arwen nodded.

"This form of elvish has not been used in many thousands of years. Where did you get this pendant"

"I've always had it. Gandalf told me it was my mother's. It's all I have of her"

"You have no memories of her"

"No. Protect from the Darkness. That's seems so strange"

"I can't tell you what it means, but maybe father can. Well, let us get you dressed." The deep pink dress was a little big for her but Arwen
made it fit. Arwen gave her pair of slippers and brushed her hair until it shone and then pulled it back into two braids on either side of her

head. They left the room and Arwen showed her around Rivendell. The city was breathtaking. It was so peaceful. Everywhere she

looked she saw rivers and waterfalls. She had only been here a short time but she felt more at home here than she ever had in the shire.

She wondered if Strider had been right about her mother being an elf.

"Mariell," Arwen's voice interrupted her thoughts, "this is my father Lord Elrond." Mariell looked up to see a tall elf with dark hair like

Arwen's.

"Welcome to Rivendell, Mariell Baggins," he said. His voice was kind but she could feel a deep strength in him.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Lord Elrond," she said.

"The pleasure is mine. Frodo is awake and asking for you. May I show you the way?" Mariell nodded enthusiastically. She followed

Elrond down a long hall, up a flight of stairs and into a bright room. Her heart warmed as she saw Frodo sitting up in bed talking to Sam.

He looked pale but alert. He saw her and his grin widened.

"Mariell," he called holding out his hand. She moved forward taking his hand.

"Oh Frodo, I'm so glad you're all right," she said kissing his hand. Frodo was looking her over as if uncertain that she was real.

"You look lovely," he said in awe. Mariell could feel the heat in her face. She had forgotten she was wearing Arwen's gown.

"Indeed," a deep voice said behind her. Mariell turned and saw Gandalf standing behind her. Relief washed over her. The wizard came

forward and kissed her on the forehead.

"You look wonderful my dear," he said. "I am pleased to see you are unharmed." Mariell wanted to ask him why he didn't meet them in

Bree but she held back her questions. Lord Elrond came in at that moment.

"Young Frodo needs his rest now. Sam, Mariell, you can visit him later. Gandalf I must speak with you." Both Sam and Mariell were

reluctant to leave.

"It's all right Sam," Frodo said. "Go and see Rivendell. You've wanted to all your life. I insist"

"Very well Mister Frodo," Sam said. The hobbit got up and left. Mariell turned to Frodo with a hard stare.

"Don't think you're getting rid of me that easily Frodo Baggins." Frodo chuckled.

"Heaven forbid," he said. His face turned serious.

"Are you all right Mariell? I saw those wraiths knock you down and I feared..."

"I'm fine Frodo. Strider took care of us. You were right to trust him. He's a good man." Frodo raised an eyebrow at her.

"Oh really," he said curiously. Mariell wrinkled her nose.

"I know what you're thinking and get those thought s out of your head." Frodo chuckled.

"All right," he said. He yawned then. Mariell took the blanket and tucked it around him.

"I should let you sleep," she said getting up.

"Mariell," Frodo said catching her wrist, "will you stay with me till I fall asleep"

"Of course," she said sitting back down. "Will you sing to me?" Mariell smiled remembering what Strider had said about her voice. She'd
been rather embarrassed that he'd heard her but he was not here now. She pushed Frodo's hair back and began to sing.

Frodo's eyes were closed and his breathing even.

"You have a beautiful voice," a voice said softly behind her. It was Arwen. Mariell blushed.

"Bilbo used to sing to us when we were young to get us to sleep. That song was one of my favorites. It always made me feel so safe." she
said standing up.

"He must have learned that song in his travels," Arwen said. "It is an old elvish folk song. A maiden I knew long ago used to sing it. Her

name was Lindela"

"What happened to her?" Mariell asked as the two of them walked through the city.

"She bound herself to a mortal and left the city to live among men." Hearing this reminded Mariell of something.

"Arwen," Mariell said. "On the way here Strider suggested that I may have elvish heritage. Do you think it is true?" Arwen paused to

look at her.

"It is possible. Though not many elves bind themselves to men anymore it used to happen all the time. You do have many elvish traits. In

fact you look very much like…" Arwen was never able to finish that sentence because several elves on horses rode up to them at that

moment.

"Legolas!" Arwen cried. One of the elves leapt gracefully from his horse and swept Arwen into his arms. The two of them began talking

in elvish. Mariell could not understand what they were saying. She took that moment to study Arwen's "friend." He was tall and lithe. He

had long blonde hair and blue eyes. He looked almost feminine but for the muscles in his arms and legs. He was dressed in a white shirt,

brown tunic, and blue leggings. What fascinated her most was the bow slung across his shoulders and quiver full of arrows. The elf

seemed to sense her eyes on him and turned to look at her.

"Arwen," he said, "are you not going to introduce me to your companion"

"Of course," Arwen said, "Legolas this is Mariell. Mariell this is Legolas Greenleaf of the woodland elves"

"Pleased to meet you," Mariell said politely.

"A pleasure Mariell," he said. He seemed nice enough.

"Arwen," Legolas said turning serious, "I must speak with your father immediately. Gollum has escaped from Barad-dur." "Gollum?"

Mariell said her heart freezing. "Gollum has escaped?" Legolas looked at her strangely.

"Hem de las roan?" he said to Arwen. Mariell understood enough elvish to know what he said and it made her mad that he was using

elvish to try and deceive her.

"I know who Gollum is because I was raised by Bilbo Baggins. I also know that the forces of Mordor would never let Gollum escape so

they must have set him loose to lead them to the ring. Ten kilth aun maleth niok" (Don't treat me like a fool). The elf looked at her calmly.

"Indeed you are no t a fool," Legolas said. "Arwen where is your father"

"He went to the grand parlor," Arwen said. She too looked at Mariell in awe. Legolas bowed to them and left. "I see Bilbo has taught

you more than just elven folk songs," Arwen said.