One day, as the three were coming into yet another conflict, Yaonorme heard something in the brush beside the road. Quietly he extricated himself from the conversation-cum-fight and went to investigate the sound.
Angrenbor and Briar Rose were soon startled out of their fight by the sudden appearance of Yaonorme, struggling to hold onto a woman. Just as they broke out of the bushes, the woman slipped Yaonorme's grasp and tried to run.
Thinking fast, Angrenbor shot out a hand and grabbed her wrist. The woman screamed and fought him, but the half-elf held her fast while his brother restrained her from behind.
"Who are you?" Angrenbor asked harshly, even as Yaonorme asked, "Why are you following us?"
The woman, whom they could now see was an elf, turned her fiery eyes first on Briar Rose, then Yaonorme, then settled them on Angrenbor. Finally she answered through clenched teeth. "I am Galenwen, daughter of Olorin. You cannot hold me like this!"
Angrenbor blinked and nearly lost his hold on her. "Well, since I am holding you like this, why don't you explain yourself?"
Galenwen sighed as Yaonorme laid his hands on her shoulders. "I think you should answer his questions, Galenwen. If that is your name."
They moved off the road and sat beside it under a beech tree. The elf reluctantly began her story.
"My mother's name is Limwen. Cousin of Melian, servant of Nessa. She wed Olorin early in the Second Age, and when Manwë sent him to Arda against his want, she begged Nessa to let her go over the Sea with her husband. Before crossing, he tried to make her remain behind, and used his newly aged appearance (he once was a handsome, sleek Maia) to persuade her. But she was loyal and went with him, with a child in her womb (he did not know this at the time). They crossed together, and stayed for a time in Mithlond.
"After a short while, Olorin bade Limwen to stay in Mithlond while he went out into the world. This irked Limwen, for she was ever a woman of strong will, but for the sake of her unborn child she agreed to stay behind. Or so he thought.
"Soon after Olorin departed, Limwen gave birth to a daughter, whom she named Galenwen. Then she rode out after her husband, leaving her infant in the care of the elves of Mithlond.
"But misfortune shadowed Limwen's steps on that journey. When she caught up to Olorin, he was in the middle of an Orc attack. He was handling himself well, but Limwen nonetheless joined the fray to aid him. Unfortunately, her presence confused more than strengthened her husband. Olorin and Limwen prevailed, but at a deadly price. Limwen was fatally wounded and died in the night despite Olorin's attempts to save her. He left for the Wilds then, assuming that his child was also dead. He never knew of Galenwen's exsistence.
"Galenwen was raised as the daughter of Círdan the Shipwright. She was never told of her true parentage, for Círdan was afraid of what the race of Men may do to one of the same race as Annatar, who was their downfall.
"Finally, at the end of the Third Age, as the ship bearing Olorin and his companions disappeared on the horizon, Círdan revealed to Galenwen her true heritage. Angered that it had been kept from her (but seeing reluctantly the logic in it), Galenwen left Mithlond to roam the world, to see what it was that tied her adoptive father and his kin to this mortal place.
"So that is how Galenwen comes to you, son of elves. I have traveled this earth for over seventy years of men, sometimes with others, but often alone, for I have no kin left here.
"I have been following the three of you for two days now. You interest me, and there is something not quite normal about all of you. If you will permit me, I would travel with you as a friend. Not as a captive," she added caustically, shaking off Angrenbor, who still loosely held her wrist.
The wizard ignored her comment. He ran a hand through his dark hair, muttering, "This is amazing."
"Truly," echoed Yaonorme, who sat beside Angrenbor.
The woman was puzzled. "What is amazing?"
"Aside from the fact that here is yet another person who told their entire life's story with minimal threatening on the part of the questioners?" Briar Rose winced as Yaonorme's elbow dug into her side as a response to her muttered question.
Angrenbor looked wearily at Galenwen. "If all that you say is true, and I believe that it is, then you and I are distantly related. I am the son of Curumo, another of the five Istar who sailed from Valinor. The fair one you see sitting beside me is my half-brother, Yaonorme Eruedraithon"
This statement produced silence, then a barrage of embraces, questions, and tales that once again lasted well into the night. Angrenbor, Briar Rose and Yaonorme all retold their stories (though Briar Rose grumbled about the folly of this) and the Two Ring, Elglin, and Beriohtarion were brought out and explained. In a lull of speech, Galenwen showed them a ring of her own.
"This ring is called Melaglar. My father, Círdan, gave it to me on my begetting day. It is no magic ring, and it has no real power. I can make it give light when I have need, but I alone can make it so."
She raised her left hand and the others leaned in to examine her ring. It was a slender circle of silver, latticed and crowned by a rose-pink pearl shaped into a small heart. Galenwen brought it to her lips and spoke a soft word. Instantly light flared from the ring, then faded as Galenwen again whispered to it.
"Impressive," commented Briar Rose. As Angrenbor and Galenwen turned back to discussing the pros and cons of having Maiar blood, the hobbit maid leaned over to Yaonorme and whispered, "Am I the only one here who is not related to anyone and finds this gathering singularly odd?" Yaonorme only laughed, the bell-like sound echoing off the road and surrounding trees.
The decision was unanimous that Galenwen be accepted into their traveling party. Briar Rose, however, had a thing or two to say about caution with personal information and they all sat dutifully through her lecture.
They traveled together as they had before, with Angrenbor taking time to instruct Galenwen in the use of her innate power. The arguments over Angrenbor's choice continued as well, but none of them ever considered leaving him, despite their disagreement.
Soon they began to pass the place where Yaonorme assured them the elf-haven of Rivendell was ensconced. They avoided this fair place at all costs, for there dwelt Elladan Elrondion, Lord of Imladris and father of Yaonorme Eruedraithon. If there was one person on the face of Arda who would stop their quest, it was he.