Janice: I have a headache… oww…
Legolas: Maybe you should have gone to sleep earlier.
Janice: Maybe….
Magdalan-Sayian-Toa…. I despise the fact I live next door to you. Yes, the meaning of Edan's name means fiery (Edan: My name isn't— ) and I know it's an odd name. And stop calling me an idiot! lotrelves yes, it was an interesting chapter. I found it interesting in many ways too… I hate insomnia. alfalfa7 yeah, Edan sort of looks like those wolves… except he has much more of a menacing look than anything.
Shards of the Future
Chapter 7: Prejudice
"A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."--William James.
I was glad that we had gotten Frodo to Rivendell in time. It's frightening to loose someone you know. It's happened to me twice in my life, this time and back when I was nine…
Sarah and I were walking home from school; Glenys had stayed after for some help in math and Raina had gone to hang out with some other friends, so it was just the two of us.
stillI wasn't sure how we had healed. I had tried to ignore the pain and wishing for them to heal. They had healed but themselves.
Edan lay curled up in the main hall. Many of the elves were wary of him, being a Devil-Hound. I was still trying to figure out who that mysterious grandfather he had said had sent him.
I had my bag slung over my shoulder and sat down on a silk pillow near him. The elves were kind but wary folk, exotic as well. Sarah had commented on how they weren't like she had read in the books. They preferred to sit on the floor on silk pillows, than on chairs. The tables were lower as well. I already knew this from being here for quite some time, but I just thought that's how it was in the books and movies.
"Yes, Milady Gwen?"
"Edan, you said something about how one of my grandfathers had sent you to protect me. Did he send me this?" I asked, pulling out a book. It was heavy, the pages blank. The leather binding had gold Elvish letters printed on the front of it. I normally would have been able to translate it but it was in an older form of Sindarin. "What does it say?"
"Solorfainiel. It is your Elvish name."
"I have an Elvish name?" I was getting looks from the Elves.
"Everyone does. Mine is Urú vion." I nodded absent-mindedly.
"It doesn't just say Solorfainiel, does it…?"
"No… It is best that I do not tell you what it all says. You will find out on your own in time." He got up and padded away. "If you do not mind, the cook has something for me to eat."
"Whatever."
Once Edan had disappeared, an elf, Cugedhion, came up to me.
"Suilaid, Gwynovir."
"Cugedhion, Manen nalyë?"
"I am well. You are friends with the Devil-Hound?"
"Mae, yes I am. He saved my life and was sent to protect me."
"And he told you this?"
"Mae."
"And you believe him."
"Why should I not?"
"Milady Gwynovir, I mean not to insult you, but you would trust a creature of darkness to a being of light?"
"Cugedhion, I have a friend who seems like the villainess I know she wants to be but she is misunderstood by society, by those she grew up with. Edan is like her, misunderstood. Never judge someone because of what they are, judge them by what they have done and their hearts."
"I know his heart is black."
"It may seem that way to you, but do you know him?" When he didn't say anything, I continued. "You never judge someone unless you know them."
"You do not know him."
"I know his heart."
"As you… wish, Milady Gwynovir."
I sighed as I walked through the opaque halls of this place in the forests and edge of the mountains. I thought I had left prejudice back home, on earth. But I guess somethings never change. You can't really leave anything behind, it follows you everywhere you go.
I kind of wished my mom was here, she would say something to help me understand things I don't. She would give me a hug and make me realize things I get confused with. Every mom I know has a way to make her daughter feel better, my mom especially. I know my mom and I fight quite a bit but she's as close to me as any of my friends.
"A bumpy past with someone can make you companionship stronger." my mother would say to me when she was trying to smooth things over with me after a fight. I'm stubborn, I know but I'm passionate about the things I know (which caused me to help the people I hated on our travels across the world). Those words meant a lot to me. Those practiced words said so many times a day during our travels. We never really showed we had fought but you could feel that we had…
"Gwen, here, try this on!" my mother held a furred thing in front of me. I looked horrified at it.
"But, mom— "
"I know, I know, but it'll keep you warmed than that down jacket you're wearing." She held it out again, this time, closer to me.
"Mom, no! It's against animal rights! I won't— no, I refuse!"
An hour later, I was freezing my ass off. My mother had bought the jacket despite my refusal to wear it.
I sighed and walked over to her. She was wearing one quite similar to the one she had bought for me. I tapped her on the shoulder.
"I surrender." I muttered. She smiled and wrapped the jacket about me. She kissed me on my forehead and gave me a tight squeeze.
"I knew you would."
Sarah and Raina were dragging Elsa about. A cloaked figure was following them about. The three (well, two of the three) were going about in wonder and getting to know Elrond's home better. Sarah was saying things about how beautiful it really was and how different it was than how she had seen it. Raina was simply nodding. Elsa, arms folded in front of her chest, followed, not really caring. The cloak figure was just… there. I began to wonder who it was.
They saw me. And rushed over. We had been here four days.
"You'll never believe who Gandalf found." Sarah said excitedly. She pulled the arm of the cloaked figure and brought her closer to me. The person removed their hood to reveal a very familiar face to me. Glenys Marie Riley.
I squealed and glomped the life out of her.
"Where did Gandalf find you?" I asked her.
"She was in Saruman's tower. He had found her and had welcomed her to live with him." Raina said.
"Who's Saruman?" I asked.
"He's the current White Wizard, head of all wizards, you could say. He's under the control of Sauron." Sarah explained.
"Don't forget why we went looking for her." Glenys said softly.
"Oh! Frodo just awoke. That means Boromir arrives later today and the Council is tomorrow."
Solorfainiel is actually Guinevere, not Gwynovir. But the names have similar roots and similar pronunciation it will share the Elvish translations. Urú vion is actually Aidan, but Edan is a form a Aidan (like Gwynovir is a form of Guinevere).
Janice: Yeah! Done! I am happy!
Frodo: She scares me.
Everyone else: (nods simotaniously)