Heyyy everybody! So glad you could make it! Sorry for the later-thsn-usual update, I was a little busy. To Mordor with school, I tell you that Melkor made it up to torture us poor little children. Oh well. Back to the main point... Thank you for all of the faves and follows, as always! And admit it, people, you know you've been looking forwards to this chapter for a while. XD
Chapter 4
Eruanna woke up with a stir and started blinking sleepily, sitting up to rub her eyes. In a moment, arms were picking her up and a voice was murmuring in her ears. She listened to the voice with contentment, feeling safe.
"Good morning, seler. I hope you slept well."
She listened to the voice, focusing on it, caressing it in her mind, turning it over, listening to it and trying to analyze it and give it a description. She found herself unable to properly put her impressions into words.
It was golden. Just like everything else about him. Fraught with wisdom and age, yet youthful and with a tinge of gaiety underneath the exterior. It flowed over her ears in a river of silk, making her want to just curl into it, feeling it and staying in it forever.
Something else, however, existed in his voice that would make any elf able to catch the underlying tone do a double-take. There was an echo in his voice that spoke of wonders that no elf of Arda had ever seen. It was an echo of living in Aman, where the Valar lived. If only she had known it, though, she had the same tone in her own voice.
Finally, however, she reluctantly peeled her eyes open and sighed, blearily focusing an amused face into sight. "I was wondering if you would ever open your eyes." He teased her, earning a sleepy glare to which he laughed.
Then he sobered. "Come, Eruanna, in an hour we must go to the council. You have been invited as well for your part in this." He gave a pointed look to her arm, to which she blanched but otherwise said nothing, choosing instead to nod wordlessly and make her way to the wooden wardrobe.
Glorfindel, for the occasion, was dressed in robes that were reminiscent of the ones he had worn as elven lord of Gondolin. There was a pure white robe to start it off, having wide sleeves that trailed all the way down to the hem of the robe that also flowed in folds like ripples of water. The hems of the white robe were embroidered with gold thread that made a bar that ran all the way along the edges, celandine threading their way up the bar like a creeping vine.
A thick, ornate belt cinched the loose garb at his waist. It was a gilded piece of fabric also ringed with metal to keep it firm and stiff, and was stitched with deep blue and silver thread in typical elven swirls. The clasp was made of two half-moon shaped pieces of polished turquoise that clipped together.
The collar of the robe swept up several inches below his chin, hemmed with gold bars and cutting down into a V-neckline that ended between his collarbones. A large decorative piece was also stitched on the outer edges of the neckline in a wide band. It contained intricate silver and blue beadwork and golden threading as always.
His cloak was made of watered silk that started off deep blue at the shoulders and faded to icy blue in the middle, then darkened again in shade at the bottom. As always, it was hemmed with golden celandine. It was held in place on his shoulders by epaulettes made of gilded steel spanning his shoulder like a piece of armor, coming to a triangular point on his bicep and decorated with tiny gemstones with swirls of silver as well.
Eruanna, on the other hand, also wore something akin to what she would have worn in Gondolin signifying her rank as a Lord's daughter and lady in her own rights. Leggings of spun, white wool covered her legs.
Her tunic was made of white silk, hemmed with tiny golden swirls and vines at the hems of the bottom, sleeves, and neckline. It hung on her loosely and reached just above her knees. The sleeves were wide, coming down to her wrists.
It was cinched at the waist with a thin girdle of golden silk that had a single gem of sapphire hanging from one end and hung down slightly when it was tied into place. A pair of soft, icy blue slippers decorated her feet.
She also wore a small cloak around her shoulders like a poncho of sorts. It clipped in the front with a clasp of turquoise and frame of gold. The blue, watered silk was the same as Glorfindel's, and swept in an arc down to her elbows and around to her mid-back, embroidered with the same pattern of golden celandine at the edges.
Last but not least, she wore her dwarven necklace which hung between her collarbones and glittered in the light brightly. Neither wore circlets on their fair heads.
When all was finally ready, Glorfindel grasped Eruanna gently and sat her down, brushing through her somewhat tangled locks soothingly. She leaned into his touch, making him smile lightly as he hummed. When he was finished, he turned her to himself where she still sat on his lap.
"Seler, I want you to do this for me, as you promised to." He said gravely, handing her a small wooden bowl full of gems and beads. She looked up at him curiously and he nodded, a small smile ghosting over his face. "Yes, Eruanna. Just as Atta taught you." He murmured.
She slid down from his lap and reverently took the bowl, curtsying to him formally and moving to the back of the stool as he sat still and straight. She set the bowl down and took a lock of his hair from the side of his head and began to braid it carefully and slowly.
It started at his ear and when it got behind the ear she took an opal from the bowl and used it in the classical braid. Left, right. Next she inserted an aquamarine. Left, right, and a sapphire was used. And then the same pattern all over again of opal, aquamarine, and sapphire. She did it all the way to the end, and then looped it to the back of his head.
Then she moved to the other side, doing the same thing. Then she looped both sides to the back and began a fishtail braid down the back, inserting the same gemstones. A single, cut beryl of greenish-blue was set at the end. Then she moved back to the front and leaned forwards, kissing his eyes and cheeks as a symbol of good-will.
Glorfindel smiled as the ceremony of braiding his warrior braids was finished and picked her up, hugging her to himself. She snuggled into him happily as he stroked her hair and held her close, golden head bent over the smaller one. Then he pulled back slightly and took a lock of her hair in his hand.
He pulled the bowl to himself and began to braid one long lock of her hair that trailed at the side of her face. After he had finished the thin braid he pulled it over the top of her head to the back, doing the same to the other side. In those braids he inserted alternating beryl and aquamarine.
He then moved to the hair next to her ears, braiding both sides and using alternating sapphire and opal. He pulled the two higher braids to the back and used a Celtic knot, then took the two lower braids and did them in another Celtic knot as well. Then using a single, large, cut beryl, he put the knots together to form a flower of sorts.
After all was finished, she smiled up at him and he chuckled. "Well, now that we are done making peacocks of ourselves, why don't we finally go and show off our splendor?" He asked with a wink, standing and twirling playfully so that the sun through the window could make the gems in his hair sparkle in the light. She giggled and did the same, and both siblings left the rooms laughing cheerfully.
But their light mood was not to last for very long. As they entered the circle where the council was to take place, they were welcomed by Lord Elrond who was already there.
"Frodo should be here soon." Was all he said, however, of the purpose for which they had gathered. Eruanna and Glorfindel, in the meantime, sat down. Erestor drew Eruanna into his lap sitting next to Glorfindel, and the elfling promptly took the councillor's hair into her hands and playing with it.
Glorfindel snickered as Erestor sighed and shook his head. "Such a fascination I will never understand." He told her. She blinked up at him incredulously and pointed to Glorfindel, who had the grace to look chagrined. Erestor stifled his smile, avenged.
To her, Erestor's hair was like buttery strands of dust. The color of dust, grey, and smooth like butter that smudged between her fingers. More and more elves, men, and dwarves came into the room as she watched, hidden in the folds of Erestor's robe. She was passed discreetly to Glorfindel, who promptly covered her with his cloak so that she wasn't visible to anyone else.
Lord Elrond had declared that she was to be present at the council but not revealed until it was time. Too many who didn't know her story wouldn't understand her presence there as seemingly a mere child.
Finally, however, everyone was gathered and Gandalf came in with Frodo and Bilbo. Lord Elrond stood and began introductions.
"Here, my friends, is the hobbit Frodo son of Drogo. Few have ever come here through greater danger or on an errand more urgent." Then he turned to the rest, naming each with their proper titles and motioning to them.
"This is Master Gloin of Erebor with his son Gimli. This is Lord Glorfindel, and Lord Erestor, both of Imladris. Lord Galdor of Lindon, kingdom of Lord Cìrdan the shipwright. Prince Legolas of Mirkwood, son of Thranduil Oropherion. And also here is our two men, The Dùnedan and Lord Boromir, son of the Steward of Gondor."
Said man made Eruanna do a double take. He was the strawberry blonde and grey-eyed man that she had seen briefly at the feast. His face was fair and noble, proud and stern. It made Eruanna flinch slightly and at the same time respect him.
"He arrived in the early morning yesterday for counsel. I have invited him here, for his questions will be answered." Lord Elrond finished, and returned to his chair as Gandalf and Bilbo and Frodo took theirs.
After the tale of the One Ring had been told, there was a silence, until Lord Elrond nodded to the man of Gondor. Therefore Boromir began his tale of his dream and what had led him all the way to seek the Last Homely House before the Sea.
"And here you shall find the answers to your tale." Gandalf spoke up.
"Frodo, bring forth the ring." Elrond commanded.
Hesitantly, the halfling stepped forwards and took from his pocket a small golden band which he laid upon the table in the center of the room. Frodo went back to his chair, sitting down with a shaky sigh and closing his eyes. Eruanna cringed at the feeling of sudden darkness and the evil whispers that permeated their ears.
Boromir stood. "So it is true. Isildur's bane has been found." His voice was funny, and he stared at the ring.
Gandalf interrupted by telling Bilbo to tell his part of the tale, which was done, then Frodo, and then Gandalf, and how it was proved that the ring was truly the One that was the mere trinket that Sauron fancied.
"Long has my people held against the forces of Mordor. It is a gift to men. Give it to us, that we may use it against him!" Boromir cried, standing.
"You cannot wield it. None can. It answers to Sauron and him alone does it belong. No other master will it have." Aragorn spoke up for the first time.
"What would a mere ranger know of this matter?" Boromir demanded.
"This is no mere ranger. This is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, heir of Isildur and to the throne of Gondor." Bilbo interjected, put out in defense of his friend.
"Havo dad, Bilbo." Aragorn murmured softly.
'He needs to defend himself. Why does he not?' Eruanna complained sourly, also piqued at the slight against the Edain that she loved as a brother.
'He does not wish to face his future.' Glorfindel murmured back.
Gandalf went on with the treachery of Saruman as well, which was received with great consternation. "Well, and that is the end of all tales, but we have not yet come to the heart of the matter- what shall we do with it?"
A silence fell for a moment. "I had forgotten Tom Bombadil." Elrond spoke. "He is a mystery to us, unknown whence he comes or what he is."
"Can we not send messages and obtain his help? It seems that he has power over the ring." Erestor spoke up. Eruanna's ears pricked.
"No, I should not put it so. Say rather that the ring has no power over him. He is his own master, and he has no interest for it. But he has set his bounds in his home, and he will not leave them." Gandalf replied.
"But within those bounds nothing seems to dismay him. Can he not keep the ring there, forever harmless?" Erestor pressed.
"No. He would not do it willingly. Perhaps if all the free peoples begged him he would, but he would be forgetful of it and not understand the need. He would throw it away or some such nonsense, for such things have no sway over his mind and makes him a most unsafe guardian; that fact alone is enough." Gandalf answered.
'It wouldn't solve anything. The main problem would still be there.' Glorfindel murmured in his mind.
'It will still be searched for.' Eruanna agreed.
"But in any case, to send the ring to him would only postpone the day of evil. He is far away, and we cannot send it to him unmarked or unguessed by the servants of evil. And even if we could, the Lord of the Rings would still soon or late find it, and all shall come to naught. Could all that power be withstood by Bombadil alone? I think not. In the end, if all else is conquered, Bombadil will fall, Last as he was First; and then Night shall come." Glorfindel put in his coin's worth of thought.
"Little though I know of Bombadil save the name; I think that Lord Glorfindel is right. Power to deny the enemy is not in him unless it is in the Earth itself." Galdor spoke.
"I have not that power, neither does any other." Elrond agreed.
"Then there is but two choices that we have, either destroy it or send it over the sea." Glorfindel determined.
"But already we know that it cannot be destroyed by any craft that we possess. They that dwell beyond the sea shall not welcome it, for it belongs to Middle-Earth, and it is our problem." Elrond pointed out.
"Then let us cast it into the deeps and make the lies of Saruman come true. For oft in lies is also hidden truth." Glorfindel suggested.
"But it shall not be safe there forever. Seas change as do creatures that live in them." Gandalf retorted.
'He has a point.' Eruanna said with a giggle.
'Hush up, seler.' He pinched her as she snickered at his expense.
"Then there is but one choice left. It must be destroyed, as Glorfindel has already pointed out." Erestor sighed. "But who shall do this deed?"
There was a silence. "It is a good deed; but not easily to be done. One does not simply walk into Mordor. It is a land of ash and fume, the very air you breathe a poisonous fume. The great eye ever watches all. It is folly!" Boromir said.
"Have you heard nothing of what has been said? The ring must be destroyed at all costs!" Legolas spoke up for the first since his tale of Gollum.
"And I suppose you're the one who thinks he should do it!" Gimli roared, standing from his seat.
Chaos broke out. 'Children.' Eruanna muttered, disgusted.
Glorfindel sighed and shook his head. 'Indeed.'
Eruanna's eyes from where she peered from the cracks of the robe landed on a Frodo, who looked both thoughtful and frightened. She pulled back the cloak slightly, and Frodo's eyes riveted on hers almost as though they were drawn together by invisible force.
'I feel that this is not the end of my story after all. What shall I do? For this doom is so heavy...' His thoughts came to her and she paused, sadness saturating her eyes.
'Must he go through such a doom? I do not wish for you to become as I am; young and yet old- forever tormented by things that neither of us deserved. But this is my fate: it was set in time before I was born by Eru AllFather himself. If this is yours, can you deny it? Is it not set in stone, and will it not happen whether by your agreement or no?' She answered softly, feeling pain for the hobbit in front of her. He stared back.
She suddenly stirred and drew the cloak back, standing to her feet on the floor. Everyone abruptly stopped their arguments and stared, shock on their faces at the sight of the elfling.
"Who is this?" Boromir broke the startled lull. "A child is brought to the council?"
"This is no mere child, Boromir." Elrond spoke sharply. "She is a great elven lady in her own rights, and has a position higher then that of yours; and do not speak of her as a child for though she may look so, her mind is far beyond your years." He finished. "I have called her here, and for a good reason it seems." He gave everyone a sharp look that made them sit, feeling embarrassed at their behavior.
"And how is she thus?" Boromir pressed.
"Beware how you speak of her in front of the dwarves, Lord Boromir, for she is considered one of our houses, and indeed we remember her with great fondness among the elves." Glóin rumbled, sitting down again.
"Perhaps I had best explain." Glorfindel stood up and began to speak as all attention was given to him.
"I am Lord Glorfindel of the House of the Golden Flower, late of Gondolin, elven city of seven names. I was one of the lords of the twelve houses of the kingdom of Turgon, son of Lord Fingolfin, son of lord Finwë. Lord Eärendil, heir of Turgon, Is father of lord Elrond, and hence is my allegiance to this house; for the protection of Eärendil and his mother was my duty which I upheld faithfully even unto my death." There was a startled silence for a moment.
"I was sent to the Halls of Mandos, where I spent many years healing, until I was re-embodied and sent back from across the sea with Gandalf and the Istari to fulfill my destiny that was set out for me by the Powers that rule under Eru himself." Glorfindel nodded to Mithrandir, who nodded back.
"In the fall of my city, I was defending the ellith and elflings that had made it to the hidden pass of the city made by Lady Idril in a time of premonition. As we passed through, a Balrog, beast of shadow and flame, blocked our way. I confronted him, and in throwing him over the cliff lost my life as well. But the safety of my Lord and Lady was what I lived for, and it is how I died an honorable death." Glorfindel took a deep breath and glanced to Eruanna, who smiled at him softly, encouraging him to go on.
"At the time, I was unaware of what had happened to my family. Sixty-two years ago, as I was on patrol on our borders, I found a small elfling, dirty and alone, battered by the storm that had been raging the night before. Elflings are rare in Arda, therefore the child was a mystery to us elves, who cherish them with all of our beings." He swallowed slightly. It was quiet, and everyone was focused on the story.
"After gaining the child's trust, she collapsed and I was forced to study her-" he visibly twitched his fingers. "She had been periodically tortured for a long time, whip marks scouring her back and overlapping, cuts and bruises everywhere, and even one cut all the way to the bone on her left arm. I brought her to Imladris, where she healed." He took a steadying breath. Eruanna's hair was a veil across her face.
He went on with his story, telling how he discovered their relationship, their adventures together, her part in Bilbo's story, all the way until her memory of Gondolin and it's fall. Bilbo notably jotted down notes through it all. Even Dol Guldur was told, and horrified looks were exchanged.
Eruanna reached up and rubbed her arm, feeling it start to burn horribly once again. "Therefore, she has every right to be here; as victim of the one who is not to be named, an elf of high standing in this realm and elsewhere, and one who bears the light of the Valar themselves." He finished.
There was a silence. "Forgive me for my slight." Boromir finally spoke. "But to show us that all these things truly came to pass- surely there is a scar from her- experiences?" He asked.
Glorfindel made to bristle, but Eruanna walked calmly to the man and pulled up her sleeve. The man cringed, as did everyone else. The mark of the metal glove was as red as blood on the pale skin, and tears sparkled in her eyes from the pain that the mention of the ring had brought about. Black crust began to form at the edges and she pulled it back down, going back to Glorfindel's side.
'Glorfindel. It is his fate.' Eruanna pointed to Frodo, who stood as everyone's attention turned to him.
"I will take the ring- for it is my fate. Though- I do not know the way." He admitted sheepishly.
"So be it. I also feel that you and she are right." Elrond glanced at Eruanna, who retreated behind Glorfindel's robe, cheeks burning.
"But surely he's not going alone!" Sam cried, leaping up from behind Frodo's chair. Eruanna giggled to herself as Glorfindel nudged her with a mental chuckle.
"No indeed! You, at least, shall go with him. It is hardly possible to separate you from him, even when he is invited to a secret council and you are not." Elrond replied, amusement in his tone. Sam blushed and sidled next to his master who was attempting not to smile.
"A nice pickle we've landed in, master Frodo!" He muttered, shaking his head.
"And I shall be another. I will help you to bear this Burden, Frodo Baggins, to the very end." Gandalf stepped behind the two, hand on his staff.
"You have my sword." Aragorn stepped forwards, kneeling and inclining his head before the hobbit.
"You have my bow." Legolas also stopped forwards, taking his place next to Aragorn.
"And my ax." Gimli spoke up gruffly, not about to be outdone by the elf.
"So be it. The fate of Gondor lies in your hands; I will see it with you." Boromir stepped up to take his place.
"Two more must be chosen in due time; nine companions to stand against the nine of the Enemy." Elrond declared.
Eruanna closed her eyes, feeling faint. Legolas was going, Aragorn was going. Her brothers. On a quest that there was no guarantee of return. Tears prickled her eyes but she valiantly held them back.
"Frodo's not going anywhere without us! You'll have to tie us up in a sack not to go; and besides, you need someone of intelligence on this sort of mission- quest- thing." Pippin leapt out from behind the pillar where he had been hidden, along with Merry.
"Well then that leaves you out, Pip." Merry nudged his cousin, who nodded, and then gave him a glare.
Glorfindel and Eruanna snickered quietly at the glare that Elrond sent them. "You sensed them, and yet you deemed it unwise to tell me?" He demanded of the two miscreants.
The siblings exchanged glances. "They are the ones most suited to fill the gaps, my Lord; for they are not only kin to Frodo but also I see that they will have a part yet in this story. Even if I were to go, my lord, I cannot do anything to sway their chances for better; for even I have not such power as is needed and perhaps the enemy will sense ME instead of the other way around." Glorfindel replied smoothly.
Elrond sighed. "So be it. You shall be the fellowship of the ring." He declared.
"Great! So, where are we going?" Pip asked cheerfully. There was a silence. And then a roar of laughter. And after that, Eruanna burst into tears.
To those who are wondering why I spent so much time on the clothes issue, I feel that it is important to show several things. One, their ranking, two, their culture from which they stem, and three, because of the warrior braids. They are important.
Kmartz95: thank you! Well, now you get your wish-! Tell me what you think, if it was what you expected...
Chasing sunlight: thank you! X3
Jesus' girl 4ever: oh I'm so glad. XD yes, the delicious hair... I have a fascination for elvish hair...
TheGreenTea: yay! Thank you! I love to write them. ;) there shall be more Eruanna to come... Her story is far from over- this is just the beginning! *squeals*
Gwestiel: muahahaha. Yes, I was laughing too, just imagining Eruanna falling asleep... Thank you very much! And no, don't die from curiosity, then you can't read the rest! X3
Mibs Shadow: I tell you the Valar write themselves. I have no part in it at all. They just... Make me write them the way they want. It never comes out the way I expected, which is a good thing, all things considered. X3 And the Silmarillion is AWESOME!
FandomFangirl100: oh you bet! XD
WoodElfJedi: so glad you liked it! You, Ciaran? Hmmm. Well, I did make him mysteriously intriguing... Can't blame you, hehe. And yes, there will be quite a bit more of Ciaran to come, trust me... ;) never expected anyone to crush on him- or rather HE never expected that. XD