Another chapter my dear reviewers; I hope you will like it.

These ancient and old records of a long forgotten Lady were broken and incomplete. Once again pieces of them were gone or never written down in the first place. After all, it is often difficult to recount the times when a person was at his lowest and when all his sanity seems to be gone. People often sought to remember the pleasant, if not joyful times. They tried their best to forget the horror or the distressful situations. People sought to erase these times in order to present themselves as perfect but no one is perfect, not even the elves. I do not know if this was the reason why the records were incomplete, perhaps it is, perhaps it is not. But I'd like to think that it is not, I'd like to think that she did this in order to spare her love ones the pain she went through, the self-doubt, and the self-loathing. I'd like to think that, because I'm human and it is in the essence of human to believe everyone is good and kind, until disillusionment.

I'd like to think she is perfect but I know it is her faults that made her so precious to those who knew her. It is her mistakes that made her great and illustrious.

Chapter 7

"I swear Mithrandir if it wasn't for Fangorn I would not step a foot out of the forest." A hooded figure said riding besides the grey wizard.

Mithrandir smiled, "I know that my dear. I've never asked what is it that you dislike about the elves, but now I wish I did."

"I don't dislike the elves, they dislike me, or rather they should." The figure retorted.

"The elves do not hold grudges, it is in their nature to forgive." Mithrandir said. The figure remained silent, and in silence they rode toward the healing haven of Rivendell.

It wasn't long before they clattered into the sunny courtyard of the haven, and the lord and his daughter came out to greet them.

"Greetings Lord Elrond and Lady Arwen." Mithrandir said as he leaped off the horse with an agility that's quite surprising for his age. The hooded figure nodded his greeting silently and slide down the horse quietly.

"Greetings Mithrandir, it's been a long time." Lord Elrond said then his glance slid to the black figure by Mithrandir.

Mithrandir turned to the figure and gave a slight nod, for a moment nothing happened but then the figure reached up with a gloved hand and moved back the hood to reveal a young human woman who should be no older than twenty, yet she looked so much older. Her face was pinched, thin and worn with worries that the skin pulled tightly across the face reminding one of a skeleton but the chin was stubborn and full of pride. Her dark brown eyes were nearly black with haunting shadows and clouded over with weariness. Her skin was paled to a sickly translucence and it could be seen, even underneath her clothes that she was extremely underweight, to the point of almost painful to look at. Underneath her eyes were purple and black blotches that showed a lack of sleep. Her long stringy black hair was tied back tightly in a braid that hung down to her waist. Overall she looked so fragile and strained that she seemed ready to break down any second.

When she moved her cloak back it could be seen that she was dressed in black tights, boots, tunic and long gloves that reached up to her bare upper arm and fastened with a thick silver ring that looked elvish in design. Her boots were not the normal suede boots most people wear, instead the heel was higher though flat and the front was laced up to her knees (it was later learned that there's a sheet of metal encased in her boots). On her back was a strangely designed crossbow while she carried a sword at her side. Two daggers could be seen, glittering dangerously, strapped to her thigh.

"Salutations, I am the Guardian of Fangorn." She said stonily however Elrond caught a flicker of what seemed like regret and guilt dance across her eyes before it became blank again.

The Lord of Rivendell raised his eyebrows in surprise but nevertheless said, "Welcome to Rivendell Guardian."

She inclined her head, "Arwen will now lead you to your room." Elrond added.

"Here you are." Arwen smiled as she opened a door to a sunlight filled room. The Guardian nodded, "I will come for you for dinner."

"If you please, Lady Arwen, I wish to be alone for the rest of the day. This journey has wearied me much." She replied stiffly but politely.

"Do not trouble yourself then, I will send fresh clothes and food up later." Arwen said kindly before she left leaving the girl alone in the room.

She looked around, taking in the goldenly lit room. There was a large wooden bed in the middle with a white canopy. A balcony led out to overlook a garden. Another door led to the bathroom with a tub filled with hot water waiting for her.

How different things would have been if everything had went well years ago. She thought silently as her eyes glance at the famed beauty of Rivendell dully. She sighed and shed her clothes to step into the tub; as she washed she found herself crying again.

Oh Valar, it isn't fair. I never meant to leave her…she told me to…oh gods….I'm so sorry, I'm sorry….god I'm sorry…please…please………forgive me……

For the next few days she never saw Mithrandir, he seemed to be rushing around a lot and preparing things. Of course it would be hard for her to see anyone for that matter. She spent most of the time shut up in her room lost in thoughts and nightmaresor looking out at the garden. It was said that when people were left too long to themselves their deepest fear would surface. If that was so then it would explain the shadows of memories that haunted the footsteps of the Guardian. Everyday and night the same pair of eyes would stare at her with accusation and hate.

You left me...how could you... the once beautiful voice would cry then scream in pain. Over and over again, the Guardian could hear the screams, echoing and clashing in her mind.

Finally one morning someone knocked at the door, breaking the long days of horror, and slip a piece of paper under the door. It was Mithrandir.

Lord Elrond is holding a council to decide the fate of the ring in the center garden now.

Mithrandir

She scoffed, of course it is just like Mithrandir to sprung this on her. But she grabbed her sword and left the room. She arrived at the council just in time, Mithrandir motioned for her to sit next to him and she did. As she enter she could tell people were staring and talking about her. But she sat down and cross her leg nonchalantly.

The council began…

For the first few minutes nothing interesting happened, well nothing interesting besides the son of the Stewart of Gondor claimed the Ring was send to help them, the lost heir of Gondor's throne rebuked him, than of course there's Mithrandir's Black Tongue that gave her a headache. She looked around in boredom as half of the council fought against each other over the disposing of the Ring. This wasn't her fight even if Mithrandir said it was, she should be back in Fangorn cutting down those orcs before they cut down her friends. Suddenly out of the corner of her eyes she saw a hobbit trying to get the Council's attention, but failed miserably. She sighed, so this was the little hobbit that Mithrandir was taking about? The one bearing the great burden?

She stood up slowly and walked up to the hobbit. She gave his thin shoulders a reassuring squeeze. The hobbit glance up at her, she could see the doubt clashing with determination in his eyes. In the end determination won and he nodded resolutely.

She cleaned her throat then said in a soft venomous voice, but somehow her words reached everyone in the loud arguing council and they stopped, "Gentlemen, if that's what you are, stop bickering before I throw you into Mount Doom myself. Frodo here has something to say and for those of you without any amount of courage please shut-----up."

She cleaned her throat again and she nudged the hobbit forward, "I will take the Ring to Mordor…though I do not know the way." Mithrandir came up and said quietly, "And I will aide you as long as I'm here."

Aragorn the heir to Gondor's throne walked up and added, "You have my sword."

"You have my bow." Prince Legolas of Mirkwood said.

"And you have my axe." Gimili the dwarf shouted proudly.

Boromir, the man from Gondor sighed, "If this is indeed the will of the council then I will follow it."

This whole time Mithrandir was glancing pointedly at her, she looked back coldly but at length she inclined her head slightly. She walked to the front to face Frodo and said grimly, "And you have my sword also Frodo Baggins."

Boromir frowned, "We can't have a woman…" before he even finished his words she was behind him holding a dagger to his throat, "you were saying something?" she said a thread of steel in her voice. She has no qualm about killing this dirty human right here, right now. How dare he even hint at her weakness...only one man, no not man, elf, could ever say she's weak.

"Lower your weapon, Guardian." Mithrandir said, she glanced at him briefly then with one fluid motion she slid her dagger back into its spot by her thigh. The man send her a look filled with fear and hate. She glanced at him coldly before turning her attention back to Mithrandir and Lord Elrond.

"Very well then…" Lord Elrond began but another hobbit suddenly came rushing out followed by two more.

"Hold on, Mister Frodo's not going anywhere without me!" the hobbit called Sam cried.

"Yeah! Us too, you're going to have to tie us up to keep us from going!" the other two added.

For a moment there Elrond looked shocked but then he smiled, "Very well then, ten hearts but one goal. I name you the Fellowship of the Ring." She didn't wait to hear what he was saying next, instead she left. Her work was done; she would go with the Fellowship to Mordor and destroy the Ring. It seemed to be the only way to save Fangorn as Mithrandir had said.

That night she wandered around Rivendell, trying to outpace her terrifying dreamswhen she saw Aragorn staring intently at a mural depicting Isildur.

She laughed dryly, "Fear for the future?" Aragorn turned around startled, "I did not hear your approach." he said warily.

She shrugged, Aragorn frowned and added, "Who are you?" A brief passage of sadness crossed her face but soon it was gone again, "Nobody, only the Guardian of Fangorn."

"Nobody? That can't be, everyone has a past and that makes him someone..." Aragorn began before a stony glare from the woman cut him off.

"Are you human?" Aragorn finally ask.

"I don't know, am I?" she retorted harshly. .

Aragorn seemed taken back at her response but she just shook her head bitterly and left before he could ask more.

Soon after she left Arwen arrived, she glanced at the shadow of the woman who's leaving the scene.

"Do you know who this Guardian is?" Aragorn asked quietly.

Arwen shook her head slowly, "No, my love, but she looked familiar as if I've seen her a long time ago." she paused then cotinued, "those eyes, they're so cold and empty. I've seen her wandering during the night. She seems to never sleep as if something's troubling her..."

"Some horror from her past, perhaps," Aragorn reflected, "the past is a fearsome foe." he added softly glancing once more at the mural. Arwen laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Why do you fear? You're not Isildur, you will make your own destiny."

Aragorn glanced lovingly at her but said with resignation, "I carry the same blood inside of me."

"Do not be afraid," Arwen said comfortingly, "you are different from your predecessor. You have strength in you, Aragorn."

The man gathered her into his embrace and laid his head down on her shoulder, "I don't know..." he whispered.