Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot and The Black lady
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It was still early dawn when the elves of Lothlorien woke the travellers to begin their journey to the White Marsh.
The weather was dismal once more and they were well and truly soaked. Only Galadriel seemed to be as bright as ever though her golden hair was plastered to her back. However, this journey was more dignified than their previous one from Rivendell as they rode on horseback. By mid-morning they had reached the Brown Lands just south of Mirkwood. Pippin was surprised that it was taking them so little time. It was as though some elvish magic had given them speed. The amused glint in Galadriel's eyes told him she knew exactly what he was thinking and that he wasn't far wrong.
The talk turned to the Black Lady and Pippin was overcome by curiosity once more.
"Who is she? I know you've told us that she is the Lady of the White Marsh but that means little to me. I think Merry and I have a right to know. After all by the sounds of it she is very dangerous and its only right that we know what we are getting ourselves into."
For a moment Pippin thought Gandalf might be angry at his sudden outburst but when he looked up at him he simply started to laugh as though Pippin had said something very funny.
"Very well master hobbits. You shall be told the story. However I think Legolas would do it more justice than myself."
Legolas looked up from staring at the ground and looked at Merry and Pippin with an unreadable expression upon his face. He glanced at Gandalf.
"Where do I start?"
"I generally find that the beginning is a good place for such stories don't you thinks?"
Legolas sighed slightly. "Very well. In the year 122 of the third age of Middle Earth there was an elf child born to Elrond and Celebrian. She was named Emelia which means Dark as the night in the old tongue."
"And she's… the Black Lady?"
"Yes. Emelia is Elrond's eldest child. But she was banished from Rivendell when she was not yet 100 years old."
"What did she do?"
"She murdered a noble elf lord. For any lesser elf the punishment would have been death. But as it was Lord Elrond could not bring himself to kill his own daughter and so he banished her from the kingdom of Rivendell under pain of death."
"Why did she kill him?"
"She would never say. She just kept saying that she did it, that he deserved to die. She said she didn't regret it. That was the most horrible thing. She wasn't sorry. She didn't show the slightest hint of remorse and that broke Lord Elrond's heart for his daughter to be a cold blooded killer. Arwen took it the worst I think. They were close. Emelia would do anything in her power to protect Arwen and when Emelia…"
Gandalf picked up after Legolas trailed off.
"Emelia was the Morningstar of her people. The dawn of a winter's morning. Cool and refreshing. She still is a winter's morning in some ways. Emelia is bitter and twisted. Evil most would say, though in a different way to Sauron. She no longer cares for the world of men and has stayed in hiding since the last battle."
"Since the last battle? Did she fight then?"
"Yes she did. Or to be more precise she sent a small number of her army to fight for him. Emelia herself would not come into the battle much to Sauron's anger."
Didn't he make her though? If he wanted her to fight she didn't really have much choice. After all he is so powerful and there is only one of her."
"Have you not been listening at all these past few days Master Took? Sauron would never be as foolish as to take Emelia as his enemy. She is nearly as powerful as him. She is an elf-witch like the Lady Galadriel only of far greater power. If Emelia had fought in the last war for Sauron we would have almost certainly been destroyed. But as it is she cares too little to bother herself with the trivialities of men as she sees them to be. Emelia's mind dwells in a world of darkness where few can reach her."
Galadriel had appeared at Pippin's aide. Her face was as bright as ever but there was a tint of sadness in her voice when she spoke.
"She was always the dark one of the family. Arwen seemed to outshine her in everything. That is until I discovered her… talents. But Emelia never begrudged Arwen. She would do anything for her. They were so much more than sisters, Emelia was fiercely protective of Arwen and would only really show her face around Rivendell when Arwen wanted her to. In general she preferred to stay away from others company and so the people loved Arwen more. When they were younger it was different. She was as graceful and elegant as Arwen yet colder and more distant. She never took to strangers the Arwen did."
"So was she always evil?"
"Are you listening to me at all? No she was not always evil."
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Underlined is Galadriel the other is Emelia this conversation is in their minds.
Emelia.
Emelia!
Yes?
We're nearly there.
Late.
They arrived later than I expected.
And I suppose we can have my dear father to thank for that.
Well?
I'll make sure there are scouts waiting for you when you arrive.
You do know that's he's here?
Yes.
