Chapter Nine

~ Boromir ~
I wandered among the books, amazed at how many paintings there were of the Last Alliance. Then I came an abrupt stop. For there, pulling a book off the shelf, was the outspoken woman from the Council. She was clad in a conservative, short-sleeved gown of dark blue. Her long dark hair spilled down her back, and the moonlight streaming in through the window gleamed in the coils of her hair. Her figure was poised and perfectly balanced. Her gown was conservative, but the light highlighted her beauty. Gone was the cloak and gone was her air of disdain and authority and gone was her commanding tone, yet all seemed to add to the mystery swirling around her. It was hard for me to imagine such a woman as her, one who could show the both the natural authority of men and the soft side of women.

She would make an interesting wife, I thought, edging closer as silently as I knew how.

"What is your name?" The question sprang out before I could stop myself. She was so much like a wraith or a dream that I feared that she would suddenly disappear and leave me behind.

The woman started, whirling around. Her hair flew around her in a dark halo that was even more endearing. "Boromir of Minas Tirith," she said, her tone politely cool.

"Your name?" I persisted.

"I am called Elena," she answered, her grey-blue eyes wary.

I bowed, not commenting on her deliberate leaving out of her father's name. "I am sorry for my harsh words at the Council, my lady. I just . . . I just feel strongly that the Ring should go Gondor," I said. "It would be safe there."

Elena sighed, replacing the book. "I know. I believe you made this belief of yours quite clear where Isildur's Bane is concerned. But it is not this desire that I dislike. It is your attack on your own king that makes me doubt you."

I blinked. "I was not aware of his true identity then," I protested, stunned at how much she knew. Most women were not aware of what it meant when we spoke of "Isildur's heir", much less "Isildur's Bane". What else does she know?

"Are not you the steward's son? A superior should always treat his fellows with respect, even those he does not agree with."

"I have never have been one for diplomacy," I admitted.

Elena laughed softly. The sound was pure music to my ears. "I know," she said in a slightly amused tone. "Warriors are rarely diplomats, even among the Elves. Come to think of it, I have problems with diplomacy too."

"Yes, I believe we saw an example of that in the Council," a voice remarked dryly.

Elena turned suddenly, and my heart dropped as Lord Elrond himself approached. "I was looking for you," the Elf-lord said, his eyes settling on Elena with a paternal air. He looked around us with a slightly startled air – if that was possible for an Elf-lord to convey. "I'm surprised to find you here, though."

Elena laughed again, but the laughter was not soft now. It was like a combination of the quiet beauty of a delicate rose and the amazing power of a waterfall, and it was the most glorious laugher I'd ever heard. "I know. Elros was always more prone to fight, wasn't he?"

I frowned. Elros? Is this Elros her father?

"Without a doubt. And you take after him so much that it's scary." The Elf-lord's tone was amused, and I even dared to think for a moment that his mouth had twitched into a faint, momentary smile. So this Elros was known to Lord Elrond, then?

"I'll try to be more like you, my lord," she assured him, returning his smile. Then she turned to face me. "Excuse me, Lord Boromir."

"Of course."

As the two left, I noticed Lord Elrond putting his hand on her shoulder. She didn't stop him, too preoccupied with saying something merrily to him. Elena was no Elf; that much I knew. And Lord Elrond was said to be one of the most powerful Elf-lords of all Middle-earth. Why would he take interest in a mere mortal?

Elena, daughter of Elros, I thought to myself, passing by more glorious paintings yet not heeding them a single second glance. Elena was a far more interesting puzzle to gaze at than a still portrait. Elena, daughter of Elros, you are one mystery I shall enjoy figuring out from the beginning, which is now, until the end.

~ Aragorn ~
As the Fellowship left, I turned back for one last glimpse of Arwen. I couldn't stop myself, even though I knew that I had told her that would not be returning. Arwen met my eyes sadly. I inclined my head sorrowfully and respectively before turning away.

It was then that I noticed that I hadn't been the only person to look back one last time. Elena stood there as well, just turning away. I glanced quickly over my shoulder to find Lord Elrond's eyes on her. His eyes were filled with sadness.

"Aragorn? Are you coming?"

Elena's soft voice snapped me out of my reverie. "Yes, I'm coming," I answered. I surveyed her quietly. Why does Lord Elrond dwell over her so?

~ Estel ~
I gazed up at the sky. We had only been gone a week from Imladris, yet already I missed it. I missed Glorfindel's gentle teasing, the antics of the twins, the pure beauty of Imladris itself and the comfort it had offered. But most of all I found that I missed Lord Elrond. He'd become, in that short while, a father to me, the father I'd lost and never regained.

"Estel? Are you all right?"

I jumped in surprise. Lord Elrond and Lord Glorfindel were the only ones who knew my true name, so who was this?

Then I relaxed as Mithrandir sat beside me. "~So, Lord Elrond told you? ~" I asked quietly. I had switched to Elvish and lowered my voice, but really I didn't have to. The whole camp was asleep, even Aragorn and Legolas. But I wasn't willing to take chances.

If Aragorn and Legolas did, by any chance, overhear, I could trust them with my secrets. By story and by their actions, I knew them to be pure of heart and noble. They wouldn't harm me.

"~Yes, ~" Mithrandir said neutrally, switching obligingly to Elvish as well. He looked sideways at me. "~And he also threatened me with dismemberment should you not be returned to him in one whole piece, too. ~"

I couldn't help myself; I laughed. "What?" I choked out. I couldn't imagine Lord Elrond dismembering anyone, and I definitely couldn't imagine Mithrandir dismembered.

Mithrandir chuckled. "~You've certainly managed to capture him, my dear, ~" he said fondly. "~Even Aragorn didn't win him over so quickly. It's not often that Elrond takes a mortal under his wing, but now he has – twice over in the last century alone. ~"

I blushed. "~It's because he says that I remind him of Elros, ~" I muttered.

"~You do, ~" Mithrandir said dryly. "~Elros got Elrond into trouble so many times I'm surprised that the two managed to live through the downfall of Morgoth. Those two were such troublemakers! And Elladan and Elrohir have picked up the same traits. ~"

I giggled. "~I know. I saw some of their antics firsthand. I think that image of Glorfindel running down the hallway roaring at them is forever scarred into my brain. ~"

Mithrandir laughed. "~So you saw that too, huh? ~" Then he became serious. "~Seriously, Estel, I don't want to face Elrond's wrath when we return. Do us all a favor, all right? Stay close to Aragorn, Legolas, and me during this quest. ~"

I nodded. "~I have no other intention, Olórin, ~" I replied, enjoying the surprise on the Maia's face.

~ Legolas ~
I was awoken by the sound of stifled laughter. I jerked upright in surprise before relaxing. Mithrandir had risen and had apparently said something very funny to the woman. I squinted at her. I still hadn't learned her name, even though she interrupted the Council and broken up the three-way argument.

"~I know, ~" she said, giggling. "~I saw some of their antics firsthand. I think that image of Glorfindel running down the hallway roaring at them is forever scarred in my brain. ~"

Mithrandir chuckled. "~So you saw that too, huh? ~" Then the laughter died away, and Mithrandir leaned closer to her, his expression serious and his voice low. "~Seriously, Estel, I don't want to face Elrond's wrath when we return. Do us all a favor, all right? Stay close to Aragorn, Legolas, and me during this quest.~"

"~I have no other intention, Olórin,~" she said quietly.

Mithrandir shook his head in exasperation and went back to bed. Estel tilted her head to look at the stars again. I decided to have a little talk with her.

'Estel' had, after all, been also the name by which Aragorn had been known when he had been fostered in Imladris, yet I was certain that Lord Elrond hadn't taken another fosterling. But it wasn't just any mortal that would have Elrond threatening Mithrandir for, and not any old mortal who would call Mithrandir by a name of a Maia.

I moved silently towards her and draped a blanket over her shoulders. She jumped, startled. "By the Valar, between you and Mithrandir and Aragorn my heart will stop," she complained teasingly.

I laughed. "It's not my fault you mortals can't be as silent as the Eldar and the Dúnedain," I retorted, sitting down next to her.

The smile faded of her face. "Anyway, why are you up, Your Majesty?" she asked.

I looked up, startled. I had not announced who I was. Only Aragorn and Mithrandir knew my identity as Prince of Mirkwood.

Or so I had thought.

"How do you know who I am?" I asked.

Estel laughed again. "Easy. There's only one Legolas of Mirkwood, and it's Legolas Thranduilion, the Prince," she answered easily. "And you haven't answered my question."

"Easy," I mocked. She glared at me, and I ignored her. "I am wondering why a normal young girl like you would have Lord Elrond on Mithrandir's back, and why a normal young girl like you would carry an Elven name and speak Elvish."

"~Who says I'm a normal young girl?~"

I found myself staring at Estel. Just something about the way she had said that was . . . disconcerting. It reminded me of . . . She reminds me of Aragorn, I realized.

Estel seemed to realize her mistake. "Anyway, Estel is not my real name. It's just my nickname. Elena is my real name. Sorry if I confused you."

"It's all right," I murmured. I watched her for a few seconds longer. Yes, she did indeed remind me of Aragorn – the long dark hair that gleamed in the moonlight, the powerful grey-blue eyes, the graceful body that seemed to possess the grace of the Eldar and the strength of Men.

I put my hand on her shoulder. "I'll take over the watch now. Get some sleep."