Where You Can Not Follow: The Journey

Chapter Four: The Journey Begins

Rivendell stretched out in front of them. What looked like a compacted small town from far away turned out to be a very spaced out and large elven city.

Joan was amazed. She thought everything was beautiful, from the ground up to the very part of the tallest tree she could see. Beside her, Gandalf chuckled, "Rivendell was almost lost." He said to her. Joan turned her head to look up at the old man.

"Why? How?"

"Five years ago is when the One Ring was destroyed. Men thought it was the end for them, and elves thought it was the end for them. The elves had somewhere to go. They could take a ship from the Grey Haven to get somewhere safe, or stay and watch Middle Earth fall apart," he paused and looked around as they walked deeper into the city, "Once Middle Earth was eventually saved, they returned."

Joan nodded after he had finished his story. They came to an open cylindrical shaped building that was held up by pillars engraved with what looked like purple writing and then had vines that crept up the sides over the pillars and slid their way onto the dome shaped roof that was outlined in a blue color.

The four of them walked up the few steps that led up to the gazebo type building where at the end a tall, graceful man stood with a beautiful women at his side. Along side her stood a short man with a long red beard. He looked too out of place to be standing next to such beautiful people, but than again he probably felt more in place than Joan ever would.

"The Ring Keeper," the new man mumbled to noone in particular.

Aragorn, Legolas and Gandalf all stepped forwards and greeted the man. Aragorn gave the woman a kiss and said something to him in a language that she couldn't comprehend.

Gandalf turned to face Joan who was standing alone, facing all of them. She felt small, even compared to the dwarf-man. She felt like they were judging her, wondering why a child was chosen to do something that meant their lives.

"Joan," he started, "This is Lord Elrond of Rivendell, and his daughter, Arwen." The dwarf let out a cough and Gandalf cracked a smile. "And this is Gimli, son of Gloin."

Elrond spoke next, "We had thought to be the War of the Ring over," his voice oozed with wisdom and knowledge and she felt compelled to listen to every word he had to say, "But now, five years have passed with calmness. Until Darkness rose into power. He was created in the very depths of Mount Doom, and it is said he was created from the very Ring itself. He is a mirror image of the Lord Sauron who had helped Saurmon try and take back the One Ring. Luckily, our Ring barer had saved us all. Frodo Baggins," Elrond paused, "He was a Hobbit. An unlikely choice, but it was meant to be. Just as you are meant to destroy the New Ring and save us from Darkness," Joan could have sworn she felt the air around he get a degree colder as he spoke about Darkness, "Only now," he continued, "You must retrieve the Ring for it has not been found, and if it has.." he took in a breath, eyes narrowed at Joan, "You must get it anyway you can., take it back to Mount Doom, slay Darkness and destroy the New Ring." Joan kept glancing to and fro, looking from person to person. They honestly all believed in her already? She had hardly spoken a complete sentence and now their fate rested on her shoulders?

"Do not be afraid," the voice was soft; ethereal. Joan felt oddly calm. Arwen glided towards her like she was floating on air. The elf woman reached out, touching Joan's hair and smiled faintly, "You are here for a reason, and though we may not know where you come from, and you cannot tell," Arwen gave her a reassuring smile, "We promise we will protect you. They will protect you," she said, refrerring to the men who stood behind her. Arwen then leaned forwards and kissed Joan on the forehead.

"Thank you," Joan mouthed and Arwen smiled still. She turned to face her father.

"Let the girl have some alone time? Look how shaken she is." Elrond just waved his hand and nodded and taking Joan by the hand Arwen led her off.

The men all stayed and Gimli was the first to speak, "The New Ring Keeper is a woman!? No less a girl!"

Aragorn turned to Gandalf and Elrond while Legolas stood idly by and Gimli continued to complain.

"Minlu pedich nin i aur hen telitha, Gandalf," Aragorn said to the old wizard who stood by Elrond holding his staff in front of him, leaning on it slightly.

"That I did," he replied, "How she had arrived here I do not know, but the Darkyn's were waiting when she did arrive."

"Darkyns," Aragorn mused, "Deadlier and fiercer than the Ring Wraiths."

Just then Elrond's voice broke in. It sounded eerie and dark, "I fear a new war is upon us." He said. Gimli went quiet, and they all turned to face the wise elf. "It will take one year until the date she has arrived in Middle Earth until the New Ring will be found," his gaze seemed like he was looking at something far off in the distance; cloudy and out of it, "Darkyns will hunt you. Darkness will stalk you," he paused, "Then calm for five years," his voice became quieter, "It does not tell what happens during those five years, but again, on the day she had arrived it will begin again. Darkness will have finished rebuilding his fortress and will begin on a new army of orcs and Darkyns. It will be the Last War. Blood will be spilled, and many, many lives will be lost." And as if he suddenly snapped out of his trance he looked at every single one of them, "It is the real, final war," he frowned, "And as you protected the Hobbit, you must protect her with your lives." Gathering his robes in one hand he began to walk away, moving past Gandalf and Legolas, "Leave at daybreak," Elrond said before disappearing behind a building.

They watched him leave, and at the very moment Arwen and Joan had come back. Joan had changed into elven armor that Arwen insisted that she must wear underneath her dress and they had talked for awhile, Arwen had reassured her that it fate and that there were reasons she was taken from wherever she had come from to be in Middle Earth and had taken care of her wounded her, using elfish medicine on it.

She did have to admit that her mom was in the back of her mind when they spoke of where she had come from, but she was already starting to forget. It must have been something in the air, or that bump on her head.

Aragorn was the first to walk towards her and then Legolas, followed by Gimli. "We will go with you to the end, Joan the Keeper," he flashed her a crooked smile, and Joan smiled faintly in return. He kneeled down in front of her and grabbed her hands, holding them. Arwen had a hand on her shoulder, "You are young," he said, "And I will treat you as I will treat my future daughters. You are meant for something, Joan the Keeper," he told her and then stood. Legolas and Gimli both had half smiles on their faces.

"Ah! Enough with this mushy stuff! Gimli exclaimed which caused a fit of laughter among everyone, including Joan. Gandalf then stepped forwards, moving past Legolas and Gimli and Aragorn to come and stand in front of Joan.

"You have a following already," he said.

Joan shrugged slightly, "I suppose you could say that."

"I did," he replied, smiling and Joan smiled back at him, "But go now, rest, get to know your New Fellowship," Gandalf suggested waving her off and turned to walk away.

"You're not coming?" Joan asked. He half-turned on his heel and faced her with a mischevious smirk.

"I will arrive at most serious times and at times when I am not even needed at all. You are well protected." And then he disappeared. Joan was left with Arwen at her side and the three men in front of her.

Legolas then stepped forwards and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Ae u-esteliach nad, estelio han, estelio amen." Joan tilted her head in Arwen's direction, not knowing what Legolas had just said.

"If you trust nothing else," she whispered into Joan's ear, "Trust this, trust us."

This is where Joan's journey begins.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I hope this helps explain stuff! Now it'll get more interesting. :)