November 20, 2006

Just thought you'd like to know I don't own LotR...or anything you recognize for that matter...P

Emrys—Thank you so much! I'm glad you like it…this won't be an actual 10th walker, but it will, in a way, border it…hope that's OK!

Ujo—As stupid as this is going to sound, yes, I WAS PMSing…You REALLY could tell, couldn't you? I just get really moody…sorry if I offended you.

Mrs Huggins—I'll just say that I did not technically scream at you, but write you an angry reply…there is a difference. And I will also say that I am aware of how rude and impolite I was, and I'm sorry. I was kinda PMS-y that day…you can tell, can't you? Anyway, I would like to come to a truce with you: I will not reply angrily and you (please) will forget my rambling. Deal?

Jules14—Did I seriously come out so harsh I have scared off reviewers? Now I feel bad! I'm sorry, I'm not usually like that, I was PMSing that day…and I actually greatly appreciate the criticism! To address your main points:

--I will recycle the name here for the sake of the story: I cannot come up with good names

--Lúthien is not Aragorn's real sister; she is kind of an "informal" sister

--Gandalf's "teacher" relationship with Lúthien will be further developed later on, but, trust me, I keep what you said in mind

--I'm sorry about the mistake; as you can see from Chap 2 on I use the correct term

--I have ignored the fact about the servants and balls, even though I know it's true, for the sake of the plot

--Boromir won't be turned into a jerk, I actually like him…the foreshadowing represents something else that will happen…not telling what though P

--Thanks for the advice and the compliment, I will try and keep this story as canon as possible

Disgusted with you—Eh…Nice name? I'm sorry, but, like I've already said about 4 times so far, I was PMSing…I did come out pretty bitchy, didn't I? Hope you don't hold it against me, even though I'm pretty sure you will…still, sorry!

Chapter III—A Not-So-Normal Day

Lúthien woke up early in the morning one day, before the crack of dawn. She got out of bed and walked towards her closet. She looked over her gowns for a while and finally decided on a soft lilac gown with cream embroidery lilies on it. With that, a pair of boots, and all other things she would need for a bath, she headed down the stairs, out her house, and towards the waterfall set out for bathing. She took of her sleeping gown and walked into the water, not feeling the iciness of it. She took half an hour bathing and washing her hair, and once she had finished she walked towards her clothes and dried herself off gently before putting on her gown. Her hair was still somewhat wet, and it was dripping on the back of her gown, but she did not care, as she liked to let her hair down to dry.

Lúthien walked back towards the actual city of Rivendell and dropped off her stuff at her house. That day she did not have much to do, but Gandalf was there, and he would probably come up with something for her to do. If there was one thing Lúthien could always count on, it was Gandalf's ability to come up with a task for her to do, be it amusing or tedious, hard or easy. And so Lúthien headed to the kitchens, where Gilraen awaited with her breakfast.

"Lúthien, why won't you braid your hair? You know how improper it is to wear it wet and loose, getting your gown so wet!"

Lúthien sighed. Indeed, she was aware of how improper it was, but it was so much more fun than tying it up! Still, if she did not tie it up, her image would be lowered, no longer that of the perfect elf-maiden. She nodded and finished eating her breakfast before heading back towards her house.

"Oh! Gilraen…Would you like to go out later on today? You know, after luncheon. I think I will go for a walk around the woods."

Gilraen nodded, a smile taking over her face. She loved the wood as much as any other wood elf, and she had not gotten to spend much time with Lúthien lately. It was the perfect plan.

In the meantime Lúthien was already nearing her house. She opened the door and went up to her room, where she sat in front of the vanity with a small hairbrush in hand. She started brushing her hair gently, until it was perfect. Then she proceeded to dividing her hair into 7 different sections and braiding it complicatedly, forming a crown around her head with the braid. She then realized that she had forgotten to put on her necklace. It was a blue crystal, the color of her eyes, hanging upon a silver chain. It had once been her mother's, and she had had it since her parents' death. She took it out of its case and slowly put it around her neck, feeling better once it was finally there. It was almost a punishment to wear it, for it made her think of her parents' death, making her feel guilt and blame. Still, the bittersweet necklace always hung around her throat, making her feel protected and loved by her parents.

She looked herself over one last time before leaving her room, on her way to find Gandalf. After some while she found him, sitting worriedly by a young, dark-haired hobbit's bed. The young hobbit had been unconscious for days, his face pale and deathly. He had just woken up the day before, and now seemed to be resting. Another hobbit, this one with light hair, sat by the bed too, his face the mirror of Gandalf's. Lúthien felt a wave of jealousy rise within her. Who was this hobbit, to steal her father's attention from her? Without saying a word, and without making herself noticed, she turned and left, heading towards the library.

She loved the Rivendell library, as it always presented a place to calm down and be in peace and quiet. She could rightfully say that it was her "happy place." Once at the library she searched for a book she had not read yet. It was rather hard to find, as she was a very intellectual elleth, and had read most of the books there by the time she was 12. That was another of the reasons why she had wanted to study with Gandalf; he believed deeply in researching and reading. Lúthien finally came upon a book she had not seen before. It was a collection of poems about inter-racial romances, and she sat down to read it.

Lúthien had been reading for a while when the luncheon bell rang, calling all elves to lunch. Lúthien put the book away and hurried to the dinning hall. She found herself sitting next to two dwarves who were ignoring her, and so she ignored them as well. As Gandalf's student people did not usually ignore her, but she guessed these two dwarves did not know who she was. After she finished lunch she excused herself to her room and found Gilraen already waiting for her.

Lúthien and Gilraen set out towards the forest, and walked around for a couple of hours before they stopped at a clearing near the river. Lúthien lied down and let the sun bathe her, enjoying the feel of the sunrays on her skin. In the meantime Gilraen was making flower crowns for both of them. Finally they decided to return as the sun was setting. Once back they realized they had missed dinner, but shrugged it off. Lúthien headed to her room, and let out a loud gasp when she realized Gandalf was already there.

"Ada! What are you doing here? You scared me!"

Gandalf smiled lightly and rose to embrace her. Lúthien sighed contently at the smell of pipe tobacco and fire powder that always seemed to bathe him. He caressed her hair gently, making her feel like a small child again…suddenly she felt a tear fall on her cheek. She pulled away and saw Gandalf crying softly.

"What's wrong, Ada? Did I do something? What happened?"

Gandalf shook his head, smiling lightly at her.

"Tellela (little elf), you have done nothing but bring me joy, and that is what pains me. Today, while you were gone, a council to decide upon the fate of the One Ring was held. It has been decided that it shall be destroyed. A fellowship has been formed, to help and protect the Ring-bearer. I volunteered to join this mission. I will not lie to you; it will be dangerous and deathly. But I have confidence on the Fellowship. I hope we succeed but, if we don't, I want you to sail to Valinor and the Grey Heavens without me."

Lúthien stared at Gandalf, her mouth agape. The thoughts did not seem to register in her brain. Gandalf wanted her to sail to Valinor? By herself? She could not do that, and he knew it!

"Ada, I will do no such thing! You know I love you, and I will not sail without you by my side! I will go with you on this quest if necessary!"

Gandalf sighed and shook his head once again.

"Tellela (little elf), you cannot come with me. I mean no offense, but you are a woman, and rather weak. You must stay here, and, if word comes that we have failed, sail off as quickly as possible. Swear to me you will do that. Swear it!"

Lúthien walked away from Gandalf, shaking her head, tears streaming down her face. She shook her head wildly, biting her lip to keep herself from sobbing out loud.

"I will never leave you. Never. You cannot ask me to sail to the Grey Heavens and leave you behind, for I will not, under any circumstances, do that. Got it? Never!"

With those parting words she turned and left, running towards Aragorn's rooms. She knocked on his door fervently, calling out his name, not caring that she was probably waking up everybody in the house. Finally Aragorn opened, wearing naught but a long tunic, his eyes filled with concern. Lúthien threw her arms around his neck, sobbing against his chest. Surprised Aragorn brought her in, throwing the door behind them and leading her to his bed.

"Selli, what is wrong? What has you crying so despairingly?"

Lúthien kept sobbing, not being able to get a straight sentence out, and all Aragorn could make out was that Gandalf was the cause of her despair. He sat with her sobbing on his chest for the rest of the night, not knowing what the problem was, and therefore not knowing what to tell her. By the time the sun was raising the next day Lúthien seemed to calm down. She sat up and dried her tears, turning to look at Aragorn straight in the face.

"Aragorn, tell me of the council held yesterday."

Aragorn seemed surprised at her request, but agreed nonetheless. He told her of the Ring, and of how it must be destroyed.

"Frodo offered to take it, along with a Fellowship of nine others to help him, who will leave in a month. Gandalf was the first to volunteer. A dwarf called Gimli volunteered too, together with Boromir, Legolas, Frodo's hobbit friends, and me."

At the last phrase Lúthien's whole body stiffened. Both her father and her brother were leaving her to join the hobbit that had been taking up all their time for the past few months.

"I don't suppose I can go with you. Can I?"

Aragorn shook his head, a gentle smile on his face.

"I don't think a woman would do much good for us. Do you? I mean, we will have to fight. I do not think you would like that, or do very well at it."

Lúthien looked away angrily. So it was like that with her brother as well. Neither her father nor her brother thought her able to go with the fellowship. She pulled away from Aragorn and stood up, smoothing out her gown. She gave Aragorn a cold kiss on the cheek and left without a word, leaving a very confused Aragorn behind. Lúthien headed for her room and changed into a loose gown. From there she went to Lord Elrond's study, where she found him pouring over maps. As soon as she came in he looked up at her and sighed.

"I thought I would see you soon. Come in and sit down. How may I help you?"

"Lord Elrond, my father and my brother are leaving me for the battle. I do not wish to stay here by myself. I would like permission to go to Lothlórien. I would like to see Lord Haldir and Lady Shaliema again."

Elrond nodded, his face serious. He thought for a second and then looked up at Lúthien again.

"The Fellowship shall leave in a month's time. A week before them you shall leave, carrying a message for Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. Is that all right with you?"

Lúthien nodded and thanked him before leaving to her room to pack. She would be gone for a year or so, or at least she planned to. She left enough clothes to last her until she left for the trip and packed everything else. Once she was done she headed for the gardens, where she stumbled upon Arwen. She curtsied low, much to Arwen's discontent.

"Raise, Lady Anwamanë. I had been looking for you. Have you had an argument with Elessar? He did not seem very happy this morning."

Lúthien blushed as much as an elf would ever blush naturally and turned her head lightly. She did not wish for people to think she was ill tempered, and having fought with her brother sure deemed her so.

"We have not argued, my Lady. I just wad displeased with his decision to join the Fellowship so suddenly, without having told me anything of it. I have not seen him for a long time, and I will miss him. That is all, your Ladyship."

Arwen nodded and bade Lúthien farewell, heading towards lord Elrond's study. Lúthien sighed and went off towards the kitchens, to inform Gilraen of her trip. She did not feel comfortable being around Arwen, as she made her feel bad. Arwen was the image of who she wanted to be: beautiful, graceful, acclaimed and loved by all…and she had had all that from the cradle, where Lúthien had been working hard all her life for that same recognition. She finally reached the kitchen and looked for Gilraen. She found her flirting with a young visiting man, probably an escort to Boromir, and decided to stay in the shadows for a while. Finally the man left and Lúthien approached her friend.

"Looks like a nice fellow."

"He is," answered Gilraen, not startled at all by Lúthien's sudden appearance, "but I don't think you came here to tell me of that."

"Indeed," agreed Lúthien, nodding her head. "I came here to inform you that in three weeks time I shall depart for Lothlórien."

Gilraen nodded sadly. She had heard from one of the other servants of Aragorn and Gandalf's new mission, and had known Lúthien would not stay around like a mop to await their arrival. It was just not who she was.

"Will you not consider staying with me?"

"I'm sorry, but you know I can't. Besides, I have been yearning to see Shaliema again. And Haldir! I have not seen him for the longest time!"

Gilraen nodded sadly and hugged Lúthien. Lúthien was constantly on the go to places with Gandalf, and that saddened Gilraen. Besides, 90 of the time she was with Gandalf, and this time she would be making a long trip in dark times without him, and that worried her. But she knew she would not be able to change Lúthien's mind, and she regretfully admitted it. Lúthien staid in the kitchens with her for a while, helping bake the bread for the luncheon and chatting about this and that. When the luncheon bell called Lúthien left and headed for the dinning hall. She found Aragorn and apologized, hugging him tightly. They sat together during lunch and talked cheerily to each other. Only once did they touch the subject of the Fellowship, and that was very lightly. All Lúthien had to say about it was: "take care of my Ada, will you? He isn't a young Istar anymore."

Aragorn readily agreed, knowing how much that meant to her. Not that he would not protect him otherwise, as he loved Gandalf as well. He would just keep a closer watch on him, not wanting to venture a guess what Lúthien would do if something were to happen to her dear Adar. Soon luncheon ended, and Aragorn and Legolas went off to practice some fencing, once again leaving Lúthien alone. Lúthien sighed and headed out the doors, only to run straight into the four hobbits she had been hearing so much about, making them, and in the process, herself, fall flat on their behinds. She stared at them intensely, and they stared right back at her. all of a sudden they all started laughing out loud, and, without a single word, a friendship was formed.