"For the following year, Mairon attempted to court me. That same year, we, the Ainur, that is, became aware of a dreadful fact: Melkor had returned. Only days later, Mairon asked for my hand..." Ilmare trailed off and looked down at her hands.
"You chose Olorin," Legolas said quietly.
Ilmare instantly looked up. "No," she insisted. Her listeners frowned. "If love was a choice, who would ever choose such pain?" Seeing her pain, Haldir boldly grasped her hand and squeezed it reassuringly.
"What did you do?" the dwarf asked surprisingly gently. He was enraptured.
"I refused. The following morning, Mairon joined Melkor and took the name Sauron."
Ilmare walked to her favourite waterfall. She felt above all things that she needed to be alone now. She thought of nothing else, though that proved a drastic mistake.
Someone followed her. She was so intent upon escaping the crowd of people that she did not hear their footsteps or feel their eyes upon her.
Merely seconds after she stopped, she felt a hand on her arm. She span around in alarm. It was Mairon.
"Ilmare, I did not intend to frighten you," he said smoothly.
"Good evening, Mairon," she said, turning her face to the stars.
"Good evening, Ilmare. I hope my presence is not intrusive."
"Not at all. I come here to stargaze."
"The heavens are very beautiful, as are you," he said, slipping his hand into hers.
Instantly, Ilmare ripped her hand from his and backed away from him.
"Forgive my forwardness, Ilmare. I was overcome by your beauty."
"I am not only my outward appearance, Mairon. Do not fail to remember that," she returned sharply.
"You are kind, wise, intelligent, and witty. It is not only your beauty that I love," he said, gazing at her with hungry eyes.
"Do not profess emotions you do not feel," she spat.
"But I do love you, and I wish to never be parted from you. Would you consent to wed me?"
Ilmare stared at him, studying his face closely. There was no sign of falseness in his physiognomy. She took a deep breath and said firmly, "No."
Mairon's expression changed faster than lightning. His face was a mask of pallid fury, dimmed only by his arm reaching out to her.
"So that is your decision?" he asked.
"Yes," she said, maintaining her strong facade. Internally, she was preparing should he turn to violence to quell his rage.
Instead, he turned and stormed away. As soon as he was out of sight, Ilmare took off at a run in the opposite direction. Olorin's was the nearest residence in that direction.
"Fifteen hundred years later, the Valar marched against Melkor. They laid siege to Utumno. Nine years later, they captured Melkor and destroyed his fortress. Sauron escaped to Angband."
"Five centuries into the Years of the Sun, I arrived in Beleriand with the Host of the Valar. It took 42 years to defeat Morgoth."
"A year later, Sauron came to Eonwe and me to ask for pardon. We could not grant it. That night, Sauron stole into my house, intent upon kidnapping me. By a fortuitous accident, he woke me; I was able to stop him. However, he took my necklace, the one Olorin gave me. He escaped to Middle Earth."
"In the year 3441 of the Second Age, Sauron was defeated. A thousand years later, the Istari- I believe you call them Wizards- arrived here. A thousand years went by before Olorin drove Sauron from Dol Guldur."
"Nearly two hundred years later, I arrived. I had been sent by the Valar to aid the Istari in their endeavours to protect this world."
"Four hundred years later, a series of events occurred which drove me to live in Lindon. In 2952, I visited Imladris. It was then that I met you, Aragorn. 48 years later, the Valar instructed me to return to Imladris. Eighteen years passed. As you know, Aragorn, I attempted to return to Valimar. Olorin convinced me to return to Imladris to help in this endeavour."
"Now, I will add that whilst Sauron remains aloof in his tower of Barad Dur, he is as obsessed as ever in two matters: his domination of this world and me."
"He can use the necklace he stole from me to temporarily overwhelm my mind with his own. That is what happened at Helm's Deep, Aragorn."
"Now, that is my tale you three would need to know under most circumstances. Have you any questions, being aware that they may not receive an answer?"
"How can you be so sure Sauron is obsessed with you?" Legolas asked.
Though none of them could see it due to her hood, Ilmare went pale. After a few seconds of silence, she said, "The series of events I mentioned which forced my exile to Lindon are the main point in my confidence."
By the phrasing of her answer, it was obvious that she would say no more on that subject.
"What of Saruman?" Haldir asked. At her questioning look, he elaborated. "He spoke of you as though Gandalf had stolen you from him."
"In a way he did. Curumo had long harboured a certain...affection for me. He hated how close Olorin was to me."
"Gandalf said that you died, but you could not have...You are here..." Gimli said.
"Beren and Luthien died. They were allowed to live again," Ilmare returned smoothly.
"But that is impossible!" Gimli exclaimed.
"No. You see, when one dies, one's soul goes to the Halls of Mandos. On occasion, a soul is allowed back to the world of the living, such as Beren, Luthien, or even Glorfindel. I know, or rather knew, Mandos very well. He was one of my greatest friends."
A few seconds passed in silence before Legolas said both politely and sincerely, "Thank you, my Lady, for sharing this with us."
"My name is Ilmare, Legolas. Use it. Good night, Gentlemen." With that, she stood and retreated to the room the company had been provided.
As she left, Gimli said slightly insensitively, "What could be so bad that would force her into exile?"
The other two turned to stare at the dwarf. "There are many things worse than death, Gimli," Aragorn said seriously.
Before Gimli could ask any more, Legolas said quietly, "Look at how she and Gandalf speak of each other and act."
At the blank stare from Gimli, Haldir said, "They are in love."
"Them?!" Gimli asked incredulously.
"Appearance does not dictate love," Legolas replied wisely.
"Why do you stay so close to her, Elf?" Gimli asked, turning to Haldir.
"She saved my life," he said simply before standing and following her.
Legolas began to rise as well, but Aragorn stopped him with a hand on his arm.
"Leave them. She will need someone to calm her once the nightmares set in," he explained.
"Nightmares?"
"She has just had to relive her worst memories."
Legolas nodded and turned to the stars again.
"Elves," Gimli harrumphed under his breath.