I followed behind Celeborn and we walked in silence for a while before Celeborn spoke.
"You seem to have forgiven your father."
"We are on the path to mending." I answered.
"What made you do so?"
"His eyes." I told him truthfully. "When he heard all of the story his eyes shone with a deep regret and a burning hatred at himself for what he had done. I could see in his eyes that he had truly loved my mother. What had happened was haunting him and he was drowning in all the guilt he felt. I relieved him of that burden. When I looked at him all I used to see was the reason my mother was dead and why I would never see her again, but now I see what she did. I see a man who made a mistake, a horrible mistake, but a mistake none the less. One cannot be held accountable for all of their mistakes or else no one would be able to trust each other. My mother saw the inherent beauty in the race of Men, something that took me to now to see. I have seen how much Aragorn and Boromir care for the people of the Fellowship, no matter the race. How though dark things press in around them they have courage in the face of it. How they face that which frightens them and try their best to make this world better for those who will come after them." Celeborn had stopped and was staring at me with shocked eyes that melted into pools of warmth.
"Your mother would be so very proud if she could see and hear you now. There are very few of even Elves and Wizards that could possess the wisdom you have displayed. I am glad to see the kind hearted girl I once knew return."
"Me as well. Gandalf was right. I have learned something on this journey. I only wish he could be here to see what I have become."
"He would be just as proud as Galadriel and I."
"I like to think that he would be." I whispered.
"Come. We should not keep these people waiting much longer." We continued on our way and climbed the stairs back up to the white palace in the trees. We stopped at a large round table, around which four men sat. Upon seeing me they sprung to their feet and bowed lowly to me. I gave a bow of my own to them as well. Celeborn turned to me.
"I will leave you to talk." He said with a bow. I took a seat at the table and looked at the four men I had not seen since I was a very young girl.
"Princess Elseath. I cannot say how much of a pleasure it is to see you once again. You have grown quite beautiful since last we met." A dark skinned man said. He was young and handsome, but then again all of them were handsome, with shoulder length brown hair and gold colored eyes. Upon his brow sat a crown of all the jewels the earth could give. He was dressed in a gray silken tunic and black leggings with black leather boots. He had small cracks running through his skin like old stone. His voice was a rough as the element he stood for.
"King Terran. It is good to see you as well, though it is now Queen Rhew." I told him and had the pleasure of watching all their mouths drop open in shock.
"We felt someone take the Frost Crown and came to pay homage to them, but we were unaware that it was you. You had made your position on the matter quite clear." Said the man on my left. He was tanned with long bright red hair and a muscular build. Out of all the men present he looked the youngest and most handsome. He was dressed in dark red robes that looked very much like Lord Elrond's. On his head was a crown of living fire and rubies. His eyes were the color of molten lava and his voice was warm.
"Yes. I did, however things were set into motion and led to events that made me realize that one cannot run from destiny no matter how hard they try. I am only sorry that it took me this long to realize this fact."
"Your mother would be pleased." An airy voice said from across me. The voice belonged to the oldest looking man out of them. His form was blurred like he was not entirely solid and would blow away with the nearest wind. He had long white hair that hung to his waist and blue eyes that were both deep and bright. His hair and clothes were moving around him as though a breeze was blowing around only him. He was the only one to have no crown on his head.
"It should not have taken her this long to accept her responsibility Ventus." The nearest voice to my right snapped. I turned to look at its owner and managed to keep my face blank. He had hair the length of Boromir's and it looked perpetually wet. He was pale skinned with eyes as green as the sea and a voice that rippled. His skin shimmered with a pearly sheen, much like the pearls that dotted his shell covered crown. He wore tight trousers and a simple vest over his bare chest. Like me he wore no shoes to cover his feet.
"That is enough Algarum. All that matters is that she has accepted her title." Fax said. Though he may look the youngest he was the oldest out of all of us. Terran was the next oldest, followed by Algarum and then Ventus.
"There is the matter of her father as well." The Water King added. I saw a frown mar all their faces as they thought.
"By rights his life belongs to Rhew, not to us. It is up to her to decided his fate." Ventus said.
"Absurd! He is responsible for the death of the High Queen. That cannot go unpunished! His life may belong to her by right, but his actions are subject to us all." Algarum said.
"Rhew? Have you decided on his fate?" Fax asked.
"Yes. He lives." Was my answer.
"Rhew are you sure of that decision?" Terran asked softly.
"Yes. Whatever his actions may have resulted in, the fact remains that my mother loved him more than anything and would have wanted no harm to come to him. I have seen past my own anger at him and to the wisdom of her choices. My father, while his actions reprehensible, is heir to the throne of Gondor and thusly not ours to pass judgment over."
"Heir to the Throne of Gondor." Algarum scoffed. "As High King to the race of Men he is exactly ours to pass judgment over."
"Perhaps if the times were not so dark he would be, but for now he is needed." Fax said.
"Sauron is no concern of ours. He knows better than to attack us or our people. He will leave us be."
"And what of the Men, Elves, Hobbits, Dwarves and countless other races? Will you abandon them to darkness and flame?" I demanded of Algarum.
"Since when do you care for other races? As I recall you were happy to watch them all burn?"
"Gandalf." Was my answer.
"What does the Wizard have to do with it?" Terran asked.
"Gandalf has fallen." I told them quietly. There were gasps from everyone, even Algarum looked shocked.
"How?" He asked.
"A Balrog took him. Many months ago I was requested to go to Rivendell by Lady Galadriel, to attend a council of races. The One Ring has been found." This time worried glances were shared at the information. "It was hidden in the Shire these last sixty years, in the care of one Bilbo Baggins. It has since passed to his nephew Frodo Baggins. He and a group of companions are taking the Ring to Mordor to be destroyed."
"What should we care for who has the Ring?" Algarum demanded.
"With the Ring back in his possession Sauron would sweep across all of Middle-earth and turn it into a wasteland. Our people would perish. While Sauron is cautious of us he will not be for long. He will find a way to destroy us before the end."
"We make an arrangement with him to leave us and our people be." Algarum said.
"You truly believe he will honor it? He is called Sauron the Deceiver for a reason Algarum. Those who underestimate him end up dead or worse." I snapped.
"Perhaps you are right Rhew, but before we can come to a decision on Sauron, one must still be made in regards to your father." Ventus said.
"He has been punished enough these last forty years. There is no greater punishment than that which you can inflict on yourself." I told them.
"Be that as it may. We would still speak with him." Fax said.
"Tomorrow. Tonight our Fellowship mourns for Gandalf. Give him that time." I said and stood. The others stood with me and bowed.
"Until tomorrow." Fax said and we all went our own ways. I returned to the clearing where the Fellowship was and saw that Frodo was sitting up looking terrified. I did not need to guess that he had looked into Galadriel's mirror and seen something horrible. I went up to him and knelt beside him, he was so lost in thought that he did not even notice me.
"Frodo?" I asked gently. He jumped and spun to look at me with wide eyes.
"Rhew?" He asked as though he was not sure.
"Yes, it is me. What did you see?"
"How did you know I had seen something?" He asked.
"I have looked into Galadriel's mirror as well. I know the look one wears when they have seen something frightening in it." I told him.
"I saw The Shire fall into smoke and ruin. All my friends were chained slaves, and those that were not were slaughtered. I saw The Eye. I always see it, even when I sleep." He whispered to me.
"I have seen it too, The Eye. It seeks me, as it seeks you and when it begins to frighten me do you know what I do?"
"What?"
"I remember that it wants me because it is scared of me, as it is scared of you. It haunts you because it believes that you can destroy the Ring, and it wants to weaken you before you can have the chance. Do not let it. Think of those who are with you, Boromir, Aragorn, Sam, Merry, Pippin and me. We, all of us, believe in you Frodo. Do not let what you have seen weigh you down. Believe in yourself and all things are possible. You should rest now. You are safe and loved." I whispered as Frodo's eyes began to close.
"Will you sing for me?" He asked.
"Of course Frodo." I whispered. I closed my eyes as I tried to find a song that would comfort the frightened hobbit. Even with Galadriel's promise of a peaceful sleep I could see the others were all having trouble sleeping. I came upon a song that my mother used to sing to me and it would always comfort me and sooth me to sleep when I was troubled. I opened my eyes and started to sing.
I pray you'll be my eyes
And watch him where he goes
And help him to be wise
Help me to let go
Every mother's prayer
Every child knows
Lead him to a place
Guide him with your grace
To a place where he will be safe
I pray he finds your light
And holds it in his heart
As darkness falls each night
Remind him where you are
Every mother's prayer
Every child knows
Need to find a place
Guide him to a place
Give him faith so he will be safe
Lead him to a place
Guide him with your grace
To a place where he will be safe
All around me the Fellowship stilled and I could sense that my song had soothed them and beside me Frodo was fast asleep with a slight smile on his face. I laid down on the soft grass next to Frodo's bed and drifted off into a sleep of my own.