(Disclaimer: I own or claim none of Tolkein's work or characters, the only character that I claim is Brenna.)

Saving the Past

Chapter 2

Brenna quietly made her way down a path that appeared to have been worn over time. As she progressed towards the ever-growing sound or roaring water, she became lost in her thoughts. An inner struggle waged in her mind. She knew that just her presence alone could have altered the outcome of the story and that any interference on her part could surely destroy everything.

She silently made her way on her search for the source of the sound of the water, quietly taking in the sheer beauty of her surroundings. The vibrant and vivid colors that still existed in the world around her, were a reminder of what her home had lost. She sighed heavily in frustration in her situation. Brenna knew that she would have to fight. What else could she do? The choice was essentially taken out of her hands when Gandalf and Elrond decided that she would be needed to accompany the Fellowship.

Her thoughts and musings were interrupted by the sound of light and heavy footfalls coming quickly down the path behind her. The quiet of her walk was shattered by the sound of people calling her name and running after her.

"Brenna?! Lady Brenna where are you?"

She stopped dead in her tracks as she recognized the voices of Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas. She didn't call out her answer as they were in sight now. She turned to look at them in amusement. She never figured that elves could be so loud. Brenna chuckled quietly as she crossed her arms over her chest. Then she saw that the rest of the Fellowship had also come after her.

"You bellowed?" Brenna asked in amusement causing Aragorn and the hobbits to laugh.

Looking slightly embarrassed the twins and prince looked to the ground then glared at Aragorn. Brenna rolled her eyes and then laughed before continuing on her way down the path. Leaving the group of men, elves, hobbits, dwarf, and wizard to look towards her retreating back once again in puzzlement.

"Lady Brenna, wait!" Elladan called after her.

"Ok, let's get this out of the way right now, I'm not a lady, I don't want to be one and I know that I don't act like one. My name is Brenna, so call me Brenna, there really isn't a need for formalities."

The whole group looked at her with their eyebrows raised looking slightly taken aback that this slender bit of a young woman could be so bold and blunt. This girl, who was here apparently there to help them save their world from the spreading darkness, surprised them not only for her wit and straightforward attitude, but also for her strength and beauty. They could hardly understand how she could be so strong when she was just torn from her own world and everything that she had ever known.

Brenna kept walking chuckling quietly to herself knowing that she had effectively shut them up quite well. She knew that things were quite different here and that each gender supposedly had its own expectations. To her the patriarchal systems of society of many civilizations were barbaric but she understood that things were different here. She knew that even though she was different and she couldn't change who she was, she had to at least try to assimilate with the world that she was now in as best as she could.

Meanwhile, once the males got over their initial shock they once again began following Brenna's lead towards the infamous falls of Rivendell. Elladan and Elrohir were the first to catch up to her and tried to draw her into a conversation, but from what they and the others could tell she was deeply troubled, which was understandable. As they reached a clearing revealing the falls, Brenna sat gracefully onto a rock and pulled her knees to her chest wrapping her arms around them. She looked out over the falls and the rest of the valley around her and was once again lost in her thoughts.

The males looked from one another not sure how to approach the young woman. Frodo took the first step by walking over and sitting next to her. Brenna looked down at the small being next to her and gave him a crooked smile, sadness and confusion clearly showing in her emerald eyes.

"You know I never thought that this place existed," she began quietly. "There were times where I could almost picture it like this when things got really bad back home. The war broke out seven years ago. Men fighting men over the means of survival." She gave a sad laugh as she looked them in the eyes as her own were glassy with unshed tears.

"Child, do you know why you're here?" Gandalf asked.

"How could I, here wasn't supposed to be a real place…unless…" she trailed off thinking about her meeting with the Valar.

"Well it would seem my dear that you are here to help. I can't reveal to what exactly all of this means. In fact I would imagine that you have many question, but all will be revealed in due time."

"What the Hell is that supposed to mean? What kind of a cryptic riddle is that supposed to be? Was that supposed to make me feel better about all of this because I can assure you that that was not what I needed to hear. I'm here for reasons that you won't explain to me. My father was apparently your son, I'm not even sure I want to know the truth about my mother because I have a feeling that everything that I've known is a big lie. I mean I know that I was adopted but this is just crazy."

Frodo sat there sadly looking up at Brenna and looked to where the other hobbits a silent understanding passed through them and they walked over towards Brenna before engulfing her in a hobbit hug. She smiled down at them, hugging them back. She looked up at the others in the clearing. The elves looked on and smiled at the five. Gandalf and Aragorn shared a smile while Gimli and Boromir smirked to themselves.

"La- I mean Brenna," Legolas began, "If it's not too intrusive, would you tell us a little more about your home?"

"Sure, why not. Where I come from there are only men, no elves, dwarves, wizards or any other races of the like. With each passing year a little more of my home dies, the colors fade with the passing seasons. People fight people every day, more so in the past seven years. An all out world war has broken out, yet again, and it doesn't seem like there is any sign of it stopping until it's too late to save anything. The only parents that I have ever known were killed in an attack of this war three months ago leaving me alone. I was supposed to go with them, but decided to stay home after my mother said that she wanted me to look after the house. I never questioned her, but I have a feeling that she knew something was going to happen. They never mentioned anything about Middle Earth other than in the context of it being a story, a folk tale if you will. They never told me about who my birth parents really were or who and what I really am."

"So it has happened." Elladan stated grimly looking towards his brother and Legolas.

"I know that the elves are leaving as they should and as they are supposed to. Their time here is coming to a close…" her speech trailed off as she silently twirled a ring on her hand.

Gandalf's gasp rang out in the clearing as they all looked towards its cause. The ring on her hand was indeed something rare, something from long ago. On the middle finger of her left hand resided an elfish mithril ring.

"Where did you get this?" Legolas asked reverently holding her hand up to look more closely at the ring.

"My parents gave me this ring on my tenth birthday, why?" she asked in confusion.

"Brenna, that is no ordinary ring that you bear on your hand. Although it is no ring of power it is indeed an elfish ring that has some magic of its own. Are you sure you know nothing of your parent's heritage?" Elrohir asked earnestly.

Sighing heavily, "No I know nothing of my parent's past. All that I know is that we moved to our home in the country when I was just a baby." Brenna stated in a dejected voice.

She stood up and walked towards the edge of the cliff near the falls looking out over the beauty around her. It all felt so familiar deep down inside of her, almost as if it were a missing piece of herself.

Turning back to the others she took a deep breath. "Gandalf, I know that you won't reveal things that you believe I will find out on my own while here, but there are some things that I think you need to explain to me as well as any here who understand better than I do."

"What is it you wish to know Brenna?" Gandalf asked.

"Before I left there was aloud explosion and then everything went dark. I felt like I was falling. I think I may have passed out because when I woke again I was in some sort of Hall…" she trailed off lost in thought.

The others looked from one to the other waiting for her to continue. Gandalf looked on in deep thought and furrowed his brow in concentration. The elves looked on in confusion, but at the mention of a Hall they stiffened, unsure of how this tale would finish.

"There was bright white light all around me and I was held by a woman. She was soothing kind and gentle. Then a man and a woman stepped forward. He held me and told me that I had a choice to make. That I could go back to my home, which had all but destroyed itself, or I could pass through the Halls of Mandos and then to Valinor to be with my kin. He said that I could also choose to help. Not only this world, the place of my birth, but my home as well."

She stopped taking a breath, looking at the others looking at her with wide eyes. "The woman urged me to choose quickly because my time was running short. I chose to come here to help, there was nothing left for me back there and I wasn't ready to pass. The next thing I knew I felt life and power rush through me. The man and the woman kissed my brow in the middle of my forehead. Then four others stepped forward and kissed across my brow. Everything began to fade again, but I heard from a distance the woman say to me "Go now my child, with the blessings of all the Valar. Should you need us just call on us little one."

She finished her tale and was met by stunned silence. She looked to her companions, who were looking at her with respect and confusion. Brenna sighed and sat on the rock she had vacated. Wrapping her arms around her knees once more she looked over the falls and the valley surrounding.

Gandalf looked to his granddaughter with pride. He walked over to her and hesitantly pulled her into a warm embrace. He silently stroked her hair as the others watched, thinking of what they could possibly say to this girl.

"My child, you now bear the mark of the Valar on your brow. You have small silver stars on your forehead." He paused waiting for her reaction. Only a slight stiffening of her body proved she had heard him. "I know that this is all a lot for you to take in, and that you are angry for being left alone in another…place, but please try to understand."

"I'm trying, it's just a lot to take in at once. I miss my parents, the people who raised me. I'm not really sure I understand what everything the Valar said means."

"You my dear, were given the choice not many are given. You were given the choice of life or death. They showed you mercy and kindness because they knew that you were alone in your world. They wanted you to have the choice of being where you belong." He paused, "Your father was a half-elf, half-Istari and your mother was an elf from Lothlorien. You my dear are more elf than anything else, but I believe it is because of who and what you are that they gave you such a choice."

Brenna listened intently to what Gandalf, her grandfather was saying to her. She relaxed in his embrace and looked around the clearing at the others looking on. Pulling away slightly she looked up to him with a look of almost understanding.

"Earlier, when the winds were blowing and I got angry, that wouldn't be anything that you could explain to me could it," she asked in confusion.

He laughed and set her aside as he stood. "Yes, Brenna that would be something that I can explain to you, but let us wait until a later date."

She looked to the sky in silent thanks, closing her eyes she sent out a silent prayer for strength. Feeling a warmth brush across her brow, she opened her eyes and smiled. She stood to face the others who looked at her in wide eyed shock.

"What now?" she asked in amusement.

Pippin pointed at her forehead gaping, "You're glowing!" he stated in shock.

She laughed as she walked over to him and crouched down do his height. "Is that so?" she asked in unconcealed mirth.

Looking up into the eyes of the others as she straightened, she smiled at them.

"I have a favor to ask of you," she stated quietly as she looked around the clearing.

"What is it, Brenna?" Aragorn asked her uncertainly.

"If I'm going to be helping you, I need to know how to fight. I may have had some training, but I have a feeling that I am not nearly prepared enough for the months to come." Brenna told them. "I need you to train me, to teach me what you know so that I will have a fighting chance. I know that each of you has preparations that you need to make, and obligations that you must fulfill, but I am asking for your help."

Gandalf looked at her with respect and nodded his head to her in agreement. The others all agreed to help her in whatever ways that they might be able to. They led her towards the heart of Rivendell, to the Last Homely House. She was shown her rooms, where she found clothed laid out on the bed for her already.

Brenna was searching and exploring her room, when someone knocked on her door. She turned calling for the person to enter. A beautiful elleth entered her room and smiled softly at her. Brenna smiled back at her, trying not to stare when her eyes fell upon a pendant around the elf's neck. Her eyes widened slightly at the realization that this was Arwen Undomiel.

"Please come in," Brenna said signaling for her to enter further into the room.

"I'm Arwen, my father sent me to see if there is anything you need before we begin the feast this evening."

"I'm Brenna. I really don't think that I need anything before this evening, but would you show me where I might be able to wash before getting dressed. I'm afraid that I don't know where anything is."

Arwen led her to an adjoining room that held a large bath. It was already filled with warm water. She showed her various soaps and shampoos that were at her disposal. Arwen left her alone to clean and get dressed, telling her that someone would be at her door to escort her to the Dining Hall.

Brenna relaxed in the bath as she washed away the sweat and sorrows of her day. She used flower scented shampoo and soap, rinsed and dried quickly before toweling herself off and rushing into her room in a robe. She looked at the dress laid out on her bed in frustration. Just then there was a knock on her door.

"Milady, my name is Caladwen. Lady Arwen sent me to help you prepare for the feast."

Brenna went over to the door to let her into the room. She ushered her into the room and was immediately sat down as Caladwen helped to dry and brush out her hair. She then helped her to dress in the clothes provided. Once dressed her hair was pulled back into an intricate web of braids. Caladwen pulled back and turned Brenna to face her, put upon seeing her forehead, pulled back gasping and bowing before her.

Brenna stood immediately and pulled Caladwen to her feet as well. "Please don't bow before me." Brenna pleaded. "I don't understand why everyone is treating me differently, but please don't bow to me."

"Milady, but you have been blessed by the Valar, by Elbereth herself. Surely you must know that you are someone who is to be held in high esteem."

"I'm still not sure what all of this means. I just woke up here today after finding out that I was born here but sent away for my safety. I met the Valar and was given a choice. I chose to come here to help in whatever way I can. Gandalf is my grandfather, his son was my father." Brenna told her pleadingly.

A knock interrupted their discussion. Caladwen opened the door revealing one of Lord Elrond's sons. He was dressed in a formal dark blue tunic. He stepped into the room quietly taking in the sight of the Brenna before him. He walked toward her and bowed to her, holding out his arm.

"Are you ready to be presented Brenna?" he asked.

"Yes," she paused in question.

Laughing in response, "Elrohir, Brenna. I'm Elrohir."

He led her out of the room smiling to Caladwen. He led her through the halls towards the Dining Hall where she would be presented. Elrohir looked down at her smiling at her as they walked. He could sense her nervousness and tried to draw her into a conversation to help her through her insecurities.

Brenna knew that Elrohir was trying to help her but she couldn't talk right now she was too nervous. She still didn't understand why people were treating her any differently. She knew that it had something to do with the marks on her forehead and the Valar, but she was so confused.

Her thoughts were interrupted as they entered the room. A hush fell over those assembled in the Hall. Elrohir led her into the center of the room and up towards the main dais where Elrond, his dignitaries, and the Fellowship were seated. Everyone was standing looking towards Brenna, bowing their heads towards her.

Elrohir led her to her seat and assisted her in sitting, once she and the other ladies in the Hall were seated everyone else sat down. Whispering began breaking out throughout the Hall. Brenna felt eyes on her and looked down at he hands in her lap. She felt a warm hand rest on hers, squeezing it in reassurance. She looked up into the eyes of Arwen and gave her a weak smile.

Lord Elrond stood to address the Hall, "My friends, tonight we are celebrating the forming of the Fellowship and the renewed bonds of friendship among the peoples on Middle Earth." There was a spatter of quiet talking and light applause. "We are also celebrating this night the return of Brenna to her home. She is Gandalf's granddaughter and has been returned to us." He continued.

Elrond motioned to Brenna to stand. She looked about the room in panic, but at the reassuring look from the Fellowship and those sitting at the head table. Elrohir stepped behind her seat to assist her in standing. She looked up at him in thanks as she looked back towards the rest of those in the Hall. She looked to Elrond searching for a sign as to what exactly it is she was supposed to do or say.

"My friends," Elrond began, "Brenna is here to help with the quest that the Fellowship has agreed to set upon."

The murmuring in the Hall rose again once more. She looked out and saw looks of confusion, surprise, but most of all she saw people looking towards her forehead. She could see that word was quickly spreading through the hall of the marks on her forehead. She looked down at the ground, not sure what to do.

Her chin was grasped gently by a warm hand and lifted to look into the blue eyes of Arwen. A hush had fallen over the crowd and they saw the two elleths exchange a look. Brenna nodded to Arwen who stood next to her. They were both assisted to their seats and Elrond called for the feast to begin.

The evening passed quickly and soon everyone gathered in the Hall of Fire. Stories were told and songs were sung to pass the time. Brenna left the Hall to a nearby balcony overlooking the valley and falls. She rested against the railing and looked up towards the sky. She saw the stars shining brightly above her and closed her eyes. Unconsciously she began humming the tune that the woman who held her, the Valier, Este. Brenna felt peace and warmth engulf her, as she continued the tune.

As she finished she noticed the silence around her. The only sound that could be heard was the falls. She turned and saw that she had an audience watching her from the doors of balcony. She smiled softly at them before turning back to the stars.

Brenna stood there quietly before she felt someone come along beside her. She turned and saw that Frodo was standing next to her. She knelt down to him and smiled. Frodo returned the smile and hugged her. She was soon engulfed in a hobbit hug and laughing softly. The rest of the Fellowship stepped forward nodding their heads in acknowledgment. Legolas reached his hand down to help Brenna stand up. Taking his hand still laughing at the hobbits, she stood and looked at everyone standing there smiling at the group.

"Brenna, where did you hear that song?" Legolas asked her softly.

"When I was with the Valar," she replied just as softly causing many present to look at her in surprise.

She searched the sky one last time before turning towards the group present. She looked down at her hand which was still held by Legolas. Turning to face him she smiled and asked if he could show her back to her rooms.

Brenna and Legolas made their way through the crowd and out of the Hall down the corridors leading to her room. She bid him goodnight and went into her room. Closing the door behind her, she let out a sigh. This was going to be more difficult than she thought. Everyone seemed to think of her as this significant person. She knew some of the tales of the elves and knew of some of the important ones, but she didn't think or feel that she belonged to be in the same category as them.

Caladwen knocking and entering interrupted her thoughts. She helped her out of her dress and into a nightgown. After her hair was taken down and brushed out, the two sat in silence for a time.

"Brenna," Caladwen began, "are you alright?"

"Yes, Caladwen, I believe that I'm going to be fine, it's just a lot to take in right now."

"Is it true…I mean did you really see the Valar?" she asked hesitantly.

Brenna glanced at Caladwen, "Yes, I have seen them. You, yourself already mentioned the marks earlier. I chose to come here, to come where I belong and help."

Caladwen nodded taking Brenna's hand and squeezing it comfortingly. "I know that you feel overwhelmed by this and how everyone is reacting. Nothing like this, save for the tale of Lord Glofindel, has ever happened before."

"I know," Brenna stated. Caladwen stood quietly and left Brenna to her rest.

Brenna climbed into bed and snuggled down under the covers. Finally letting her fatigue take into the realm of dreams, she drifted off into a peaceful slumber.