A/N: Hey guys! Hope you're liking my new story so far! ^^ Thank you very much to those of you who have faved! *glomps* If you ever have any suggestions, don't be shy; let me know! :D I don't bite! Just as a disclaimer, I own nothing in this story except for Íverin. She's my own OC, but the rest belongs to the genius known as J. R. R. Tolkien (and Peter Jackson, to some extent). Enjoy chapter 2!

*Note: Is it just me, or is EVERYBODY posting stories about a half-blooded elf being in love with Legolas lately? O_o

I opened my eyes and blinked slowly, sunlight pouring in the room. I laid in my bed for a few more moments, unmoving, before I finally climbed out of bed and readied myself for the day. I pulled another long, strapless gown with a white lace top and long purple skirt and pulled it on, then took a long, light purple cloak with wide sleeves and draped it about my shoulders. Pulling on yesterday's pair of silver slippers, I left my room and headed downstairs to the main hall.

To my pleasure, I saw Elrond on my way. "Uncle!" I cried out.

When he looked up and saw me, I smiled and waved. He returned the gesture and came over to me. "I was wondering when you might awaken." A smile was on his old, but wise face. He also was taller than I, and he had long, straight, dark brown hair that reached past his shoulders, along with grey eyes full of memory. Then, with a much more serious face, he began to walk away. "Come with me, Íverin, and quickly! There is something I must ask of you."

I followed him through the house and into his private study. He sat in one of the large cushioned chairs, and motioned for me to do the same. "What must I do, uncle?" I said.

He smiled. "First, there is something I must tell you. I have invited several very important guests from all over Middle-Earth to come to this house. Most of them should be arriving today, so do not be surprised if you see strangers roaming these halls."

"Go on," I nodded.

"The second thing," he said, "is that the reason I have invited all these guests to arrive today is because I am planning on having a secret Council tomorrow afternoon, so that all the peoples of Middle-Earth can hear the tale of the Ring of Power and decide what to do with it."

I frowned. "Can't it stay in Rivendell?"

Elrond shook his head. "No! We do not have the power to conceal such an evil thing, and even if we did, it would bring too great a threat here. It cannot stay in Rivendell. And what I request of you is this: that you come to the Council as a representative of the Elves, along with several others. There is also to be a banquet this evening to welcome our guests, and I would like for you to attend that as well."

"M-me?" I stammered. "But...why me? Surely you have other advisers who would deserve the seat at the Council more than me..."

He laughed softly. "The reason I ask this of you is because you already know a great deal about the Ring and its history. And you are also very smart." I smiled at the compliment. "I think your opinion would be good to hear."

"Well, if you wish it, uncle, than it will be so!" I stood up and smiled. "I will go."

He smiled as well. "Thank you, Íverin. Now you may go. If you still wish to meet the Ring-bearer, he just woke up about an hour ago. I know not where he may be, but you know these halls better than they. You will find him quickly."

As I exited the small room, I turned to face him. "I might just keep to myself for most of today. Though I would like to see Merry and Pippin again, and possibly some of the other guests." With that, I left my uncle to himself and made for the garden. Hopefully my new Halfling friends would be there again.

When I came to the gardens, no one was there but Estel, sitting alone on a stone bench. I went and sat beside him. "Hello, cousin." I followed his gaze and looked out among the wild. "Enjoying the day, are you?"

"Indeed I was," he said with a smile, "until you arrived."

I laughed and lightly punched him in the arm. "Oh, stop. You know you love me."

"That I do," he replied. "like a sister. A funny, but irritating sister."

I frowned. "Do you really think that about me?" I whined.

Seeing through my act, he grinned even wider. "Of course I do!" We laughed.

After a moment of silence, I asked him, "Are you going to the Secret Council tomorrow?"

"How did you find out about that? Were you eavesdropping again?"

"No," I said with a smirk. "I was invited."

"Oh really?" He raised an eyebrow. "By who?"

"Uncle. He thinks my opinion will be good to hear. Though I'm not sure how much help I could be, but I'll go anyway. You know how much I hate being left out of these things."

He chuckled. "That I do. You nearly cut off my head when I wouldn't let you come to the twin's secret hideout when we were younger!"

I laughed along with him. "Only because you would always brag about how much fun you had without me!"

After a long while of sitting and talking with Estel, he suddenly stood up. "Do you hear that?" He craned his neck, straining to hear what I recognized as the sound of horses.

"Horses," I told him, "and not many. Maybe two or three."

Suddenly, Estel took off running across the fields. I chased after him. "Estel!" I cried. "Where are you going?"

"To see some old friends!" he faintly answered from far away.

I groaned and gave up the chase. Turning back to the House of Elrond, I saw Pippin standing just outside the door leading to the gardens, watching as Estel ran away. Upon seeing me, he said, "Hullo, Íverin. Where is Strider going?"

"Strider?" I asked. "Is that what you call him?"

"Yes. I should hope that's his right name, because that's what he told us when we met him at Bree." He frowned. "Is that really his name?"

I smiled warmly. "He has many names, Pippin. I call him Estel, but I suppose Strider is a good name for him, too."

"Oh," Pippin replied. He looked back in the direction that Estel has gone. "But where has he gone?"

"He is going to visit some friends of his that have just arrived. Lord Elrond has invited people from all over Middle-Earth to come and stay as guests in his house for a few days."

As soon as I finished, I knew I shouldn't have told him that, because the next word out of his mouth was, "Why?"

I sighed. Really, Pippin shouldn't know about the Council, but...there was no point in lying to him. "I'll tell you, but you must promise me that you will keep it secret, and not tell anyone else." I crouched down so that I was at eye level with him. "Can you do that, Pippin?"

He must have known I was being serious, because he nodded gravely. "Yes, Íverin. Your secret is safe with me."

I smiled. "Good." Looking around to make sure no one else would overhear us, I whispered, "Lord Elrond is planning to have a Secret Council, like a meeting, with people from all over the world. All I know is that it has to do with the Ring."

"Oh, you mean Frodo's ring?" Pippin asked.

I nodded. "Yes. I would guess that Frodo is invited, too. I am going, and surely Lord Elrond and Estel would be there, too, but I cannot say who else was invited."

"Do Merry, Sam, and I get to go?"

"I don't know, Pippin," I said, standing, "My advice would be to just wait and see if Lord Elrond asks you himself. If he does not, then do not go, and never speak about it, even if you are invited. You never know what kinds of spies the enemy has around us."

He sighed. "Even in Rivendell we can't escape Sauron. Will there ever be any freedom from evil, Íverin?"

I put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "There was a time...long, long ago, where all the free peoples of Middle-Earth were happy and were hindered by no evil. Who's to say that won't happen again?"

"Well, that's a good thought," Pippin smiled. "Are you going to the banquet tonight?"

"Yes," I smiled. "Hopefully we will see each other there! And maybe I could meet your friends as well."

"Good!" Pippin laughed. "Sam'll be the happiest hobbit on the planet to see an elf-maiden up close."

"Hobbit?" I asked. "Is that what you call yourselves in your country?"

"Sure," he answered, "something like that." We laughed and headed back inside the grand building, excited for the night ahead of us.

"Friends and family! Eat, drink, and be merry! For tonight we not only celebrate the gathering of all the great people of Middle-Earth, but the recovery of one of our dear Halfling friends." Lord Elrond's loud voice demanded the attention of all in the room.

The people in the dining hall broke into applause, and a small hobbit with dark brown hair and bright blue eyes stood briefly and waved from the head of the table. I smiled and clapped along with those around me.

"The grace of the Valar was with young Frodo this morning," Elrond continued, "and because of that, we must rejoice! Enjoy yourselves!" And with that, the feast began.

I cheered from my seat at the table. It was quite a large table; big enough to hold fifty or so, though we only took up the front half of it. At the head sat Lord Elrond, with Glorfindel and Gandalf seated on either side of him. Estel sat at the front also, and Arwen with him. The Ringbearer was also up at the front, and after that sat the host of Dwarves that had been invited. Next came those who were Men, and lastly came my people, the Elves. Pippin, Merry, and one other who had traveled with them were seated conveniently across from me.

"Ah, finally!" cried Merry, "I can feast of Elven food!"

I laughed, and then looked to the third hobbit that sat among us. "And who might this young man be?" I said with a grin.

He looked up at me for a second with an anxious expression, then quickly looked down. His eyes were a deep green, and his hair similar to Pippin's, but a bit more blonde. He was slightly chubbier than his friends, and looked both scared and awed to be here.

"That's Sam," said Pippin with a mouth full of food. "Sam," he said to his friend, "this is Íverin. Merry and I met her in the gardens yesterday!"

Again, Sam looked up at me, but did not look away this time. "Hullo, my lady." he sipped his drink.

I also began to eat my supper. "Welcome, Sam! I've heard about your liking for the Elves from your wonderful friends here." He reddened slightly, and I laughed. "There is no need to be nervous! Listen to Lord Elrond, and be merry! For you are in the House of the Lord, in Rivendell, the fairest land in all the west."

"And the land of good drink, too!" Pippin grinned. "What do you call it?" He pointed to his glass.

"That, my friend, is wine." I said. "It is a good drink when taken lightly. But beware! Do not drink it heavily, lest you become unwell. Too much of a good thing can sometimes be a bad thing, as my uncle used to say."

"Oh, yes!" Merry said to Sam, "She's also Lord Elrond's neice! So, in a sense, you're lookin' upon royalty, Sam!"

This made Sam blush all the more. "Forgive my friends, Lady. They're a bit wild."

I laughed again. "Sam, it is no trouble! I enjoy the company of Merry and Pippin, and of yourself, too. But come! You must tell me more about yourself. I have heard much about your people, but not of your country. Tell me about the Shire!"

A spark of happiness flickered in Sam's eyes, and I could tell I asked a good question. "Well," he began, "you'd love it if you love it here as much as I think you do. The most beautiful parts of it are the areas where there's naught but hills. Good, green, rolling hills as far as the eye can see. That's in my opinion, anyway."

For hours we sat and talked, eating and drinking our fill (though Pippin may have had a bit too much), and I listened to all the great tales of the Shire that the three hobbits wove for me. After many of the guests had off and gone to bed, I finally sat up and smiled.

"Well, my friends! This evening has been most wonderful, and all the stories you have told me make me want to get up and go to the Shire to see it with my own eyes." They all smiled. "But alas, it is late. The night is growing old, and as much as it saddens me to say this, I must be going." I rose from the table. "Good night, dear hobbits! I hope we may see each other again soon!"