Chapter Two
Boromir of Gondor had journeyed to Rivendell after a vision of a storm coming fast and furious from the East, from the direction of Mordor. In his vision, he had been engulfed in the darkness and noticed that in the West there yet came a pale light. He had left Gondor the very next morning had had arrived in Rivendell a full three days before Legolas and the woman. He had not seen them yet, but rumour of her spread quickly. Boromir had to find the beauty they spoke of. That night he would start looking for her even if he had to go through Lord Elrond's rooms to do it.
Yet even after a week, he had failed to discover the whereabouts of the woman, who, according to rumour, was somewhere in Elrond's own home. It irritated him to no end that he had no idea where to look and he had noticed that Legolas never showed up for meals, nor did the girl. He had tried to look nonchalant, but feared Gandalf's sharp eye was upon him. He had no doubt that Legolas was with the woman, wherever she was. He had always been jealous of the Elf. After all, Legolas was a Prince among his people, while he was merely the son of a steward. He was also not very fond of Elves in general. No matter how hard he trained for war, Elves were always better.
Finally, something about his vision would be answered. Elrond had called a council meeting and to his delight, they would begin as soon as the woman joined them. Boromir's eyes were immediately glued to her when she arrived. She was wearing a long green dress with pale green silks. Her eyes were the colour of the deep blue sea and her hair was like a flame that cascaded down her back.
"My Lady," Elrond started. "I'm so glad that you could join us. We have asked you here so that we may determine if Gandalf is correct in his belief that Ilúvatar sent you here to help us," he paused and the others in the council started to murmur amongst themselves. "Or if you were sent here to spy on us." The woman paled and started fidgeting nervously. "There is no reason to be afraid, my Lady. We will just ask you some questions, you will not be harmed," said Elrond when he noticed her fear.
The woman relaxed slightly before asking, "And what happens if Gandalf is wrong, and it is decided that I am a spy? Or if Gandalf is correct, that I know too much, My Lord?"
Elrond raised and extended his hand to her. "Then, in either case, we will have no choice but to block your memory of the knowledge and information you possess. In this way, there is nothing the enemy can learn from you should you be captured," he paused and there was another murmur from the council. Gandalf's gaze swept the council and he noted that Boromir had been staring at the girl, but his gaze had been torn away from her by Elrond's statement.
Gandalf made a mental note to watch him closely. He then gazed at Legolas who had begun to stare at the ground after the word 'spy' escaped Elrond's lips, lost in his own thoughts. No doubt he was wondering if he had brought a spy into their midst. Now, however, he looked up clearly pale and alarmed. "Have no fear, my Lady. We will block those details from your memory with Elvish magic. This will make it so that when the chosen travellers are on the right path, you will have a feeling like you've travelled that way before. Déjà vu, as it were. Our magic will not harm you or cause you any pain," Elrond continued.
"Do you mean you will send her out into danger with whoever is chosen for this task? So not only will they have the responsibility of completing whatever task is given, but to protect her as well?" Boromir shouted.
Legolas had been staring at the ground once more and now looked up startled. "If the woman was sent by Ilúvatar, then yes, that is to be her mission. It will mean that she will accompany whoever is chosen," Elrond responded calmly. "Now, my Lady, would you be so kind as to tell us your name?"
The woman was standing in the centre of the council circle and she could feel all eyes riveted on her. She shook her head to push the hair that the breeze had blown in her eyes to her back. "I believe, My Lord that we have already spoken on this matter only a few hours ago. Nothing has changed since then. I do not know my name or anything about my life before Legolas found me and brought me here," the woman replied coolly.
Elrond nodded. "Is there anything you can tell us, my Lady? After all, you did surprise me earlier with the extent of your knowledge about myself, as well as a few others at the council. Would you care to explain how you came by this information, if it is possible, or share with us what you know?" he asked calmly.
The woman took a deep breath and nodded. "Of what will happen to the travellers…I know everything. I know that the chosen travellers will be Frodo Baggins, Gandalf, Legolas, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Peregrin Took, Gimli son of Gloin, Aragorn, and Boromir. I know that four will be lost before reaching the boundaries of Mordor, one to his death. I also know that one of the four that will be lost will covet the ring."
Everyone in the council was silent with awe and shock at her revelation. They had not even discussed the task, much less who would be assigned to complete it, because they had waited until she had arrived to start the meeting. Elrond nodded at Gandalf then said, "It is clear that you know enough to place the travellers in greater peril should you be captured. We must do something about this before the travellers leave Rivendell if you are to accompany them on this quest. Will you excuse us, my Lady?" Arwen had appeared and guided the woman out into the gardens.
Once Arwen and the woman left, Elrond tried to calm everyone, but it didn't seem to be working well. "Something must be done. Even if she can help them find their way, she will be a danger to them if she is captured by the enemy," he said.
"Why should she go?" Aragorn asked. "Why not just tell us what we need to know before we go? Why should we put a woman in danger? Especially when she cannot tell us even if she knows how to protect herself, if need be. She apparently spoke the truth when she said she knows nothing of her life before Legolas found her."
"If she told us before we left, we would still have the same problem. If we went without her to guide us, anyone of us runs the risk of capture and endangers the rest as well," Gandalf said. "It would be more dangerous without her as a guide then it would be is she goes with us. I take it by the turn of this discussion, that we are all in agreement that she is not a spy?" he asked as he turned to face Lord Elrond with an inquiring gaze.
Elrond nodded. "Yes, of course. I do not believe Saruman would admit his defeat in your meeting to Sauron either. That being the case, there is no way Sauron could possess such knowledge of us as this girl has. While we are here, we must talk of possible routes the group will travel to Mordor, so that occupants of any refuge will be aware of how many they should expect. We will wait for the girl's return for that discussion however," Elrond said then paused. "I must say, however, Gandalf is right, it looks as though we are back where we started. Something has to be done with the girl."
"What about this memory blocking you spoke of?" Frodo asked. "We could have her memory blocked so that she will react to situations like déjà vu like you said, right? Isn't that what we decided?"
"That is true, Frodo," Elrond said. "There is a problem, however. You see, Frodo, I was not entirely truthful with her when I mentioned it. I have never performed such magic. I don't know what effect it will have on her, and we cannot harm her or we harm our chances of success. I told her that she would not be harmed because I did not wish to frighten her any more than she already was."
"How can we do this?!" Legolas shouted and everyone in the council looked at him in surprise. "Just sit around as if we have the ultimate power to decide what happens to her! We are not greater than Ilúvatar!" The Prince of Mirkwood was always so mild mannered and quiet that his outburst shocked them. "I will not just sit by and watch her fall victim to harm. I must admit to you all that I did not believe Ilúvatar had sent her as Gandalf had said over a week ago. I was never upset with the woman over his claim, though I did not believe him and was angry with him and Ilúvatar over what I thought was Gandalf's mistake. I have taken care of her for nearly a month now and I admit a fondness for her has grown in my heart."
Boromir was taken by surprise. He scowled slightly, but just as Gandalf looked his way, he sided with the Elf Prince by saying, "Nor do I wish to see a woman harmed."
Elrond sighed in weary frustration as he put a hand to his forehead. This was getting them nowhere fast; something had to be done. They didn't have time to debate this. It did not look good. "We must do something. She knows too much!"
Gandalf stood and faced the council. His gaze locked on Boromir and Legolas. "Perhaps," he said quietly. "The process would not be too bad on her, with or without pain, if Legolas is there with her." Gandalf paused and saw Boromir scowl at him and then at Legolas. "After all," Gandalf said looking squarely at Boromir. "She trusts him more than any of us at this point. He is the one that found her, cared for her and protected her, so what else can be expected? I feel that she too holds a fondness in her heart for him as well. What more logical explanation do we need?"
"I suppose," Gimli said gruffly, "That it would be wise to allow him to be there for the girl, though I think we all feel that we would be there for her."
"Yes, Gandalf, you're right," Frodo said. "Legolas must be the one to help her through this, though I agree with Gimli. I know I would be there for her." Legolas looked at the ground and nodded silently to himself as the others agreed with the Dwarf.
"I know you would all be there to help her," Elrond said. "But, Gandalf is right; she does trust Legolas more than anyone else here. If there is to be someone to comfort and reassure her, it must be Legolas," he concluded ending Gimli's rally to help the girl through the ordeal she now faced.
Legolas stared at the ground between his feet for a long time deep in thought. Gandalf noticed Boromir scowl in Legolas' direction. Then, Legolas replied, "Alright, I'll do it. When do we have to be ready?"
"As soon as possible, the enemy's power is growing fast. The ring cannot stay here much longer. You must depart very soon. Two days from now at the latest," Elrond answered.
"Yes," Gandalf said. "It must be soon. Saruman has joined forces with the Sauron. His treachery runs deeper than we knew. He's crossed Orcs with Goblin men. He's breeding an army, one that can travel swiftly over great distances in daylight."
"Go to her now, Legolas. She is in the gardens with Arwen," Elrond said. "We must do this tonight. If you desire, you may warn her that there is great risk involved. However, I pray that you do not, because it would only increase her fear." Legolas nodded and left the council for the gardens.