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Imladris. It was a thing of beauty. A Garden of Eden nestled in a valley. Water fell from the top of the cliff in a cascade of shimmering light that flowed freely through the elven home. It was incandescently beautiful. It was as though heaven had found a small paradise in the center of Middle Earth.
The dwarves, however, were rather annoyed at such beauty made by the elves. They were all on edge as they reached the main archway that led to the courtyard. All, excluding Gandalf, had been looking around with such fascination. Bilbo was ecstatic and reveled in the beauty of it all. He had never once seen an elf and had indeed found this to be as wonderful as it was, unlike the dwarves who were grumbling at the idea of seeing an elf at all.
They had found themselves in this position because Gandalf was sly enough to lead them exactly where they did not want to go. Gandalf knew by the sound of the elves that both Fili and Emma would be just fine. The elves would more than likely bring them back here.
Thorin, on the other hand, wanted to jump back up through the passage mouth and retrieve his stubborn nephew. It took all the convincing in the world to persuade the King that his nephew would be fine in the hands of Emma. The wizard had lied, stating that Emma knew exactly where he was heading and they would meet them there. Good thing Gandalf was a charmer. He could get anyone to do anything with the right placement of wording.
And that is how they came to be in Imladris, or Rivendell in the common tongue. Gandalf leading the way, they cautiously walked over a narrow bridge and entered the round, open courtyard, making sure to stay together. Not one dwarf trusted the elves. It was evident in the way they stiffened and tensed with each passing moment.
They stood about looking fondly at the architecture of the home, the dwarves favoring jealously over fondness, when a figure walked down from the top of stairs to greet them. A tall elf with dark hair smiled as he noticed the Grey Wizard amongst the sea of dwarves standing at their front door.
"Mithrandir." The elf said with subtle excitement. It was always a pleasure to have the Grey Wizard in their sacred home.
Gandalf turned slowly and smiled. He was happy to see a face he recognized. "Ah, Lindir."
The two met with with a nod of greeting. "We heard you had crossed into the Valley." Lindir said in elvish.
Gandalf did not want to converse lightly at the moment, however. Urgent matters pushed any thought of chatting to the side.
"I must speak with Lord Elrond." Gandalf spoke with a small amount of urgency.
"My Lord Elrond is not here." Lindir responded.
"Not here? Where is he?" Gandalf was curious to know what could have called the Lord elf away from his home.
A horn blasted in the distance and the look Lindir had was what gave Gandalf his answer. It had been Lord Elrond who had saved them at the passage. The wizard smirked slightly and turned to see a troop of horses with riders coming into view. His smirk turned into a frown when he saw how fast the horses were coming.
The dwarves immediately became defensive and closed ranks, throwing poor Bilbo into the center of them for his own protection. The elves came in quickly and began forming a circle of entrapment around the dwarves. Bilbo could hardly see the faces of the elves as they passed by. When it stopped there was a voice that everyone recognized.
"Thorin, Kili!" Fili was sitting behind one of the elves that had encircled them. He quickly jumped off the horse, with ease, and met his uncle to greet him.
Thorin was more than surprised that the elves had rescued his nephew and was in shock that he was not hurt. "Do no ever do something so reckless again! I thought I had lost you..." He grabbed onto Fili and brought him into a tight embrace.
When released, Fili could hardly say anything to his uncle. He was too ashamed for pushing him down and going against his orders...but he had to save Emma. Thorin saw the look in his face and sighed. He knew what Fili had done was admirable. The young lad had run off to save a fellow companion in their time of need...but Thorin had a feeling it was more than just that.
"Is Emma here? Did she make it out?" Thorin asked, knowing she was probably on the minds of everyone in the company.
Fili would have answered, but the words that came out of Lord Elrond mouth had everyone turning their heads.
"Take her to the healers! At once!" Lord Elrond was handing Emma's still body over to Lindir who immediately turned and made his way up the stairs.
The company stared as Emma was taken from them. Her hand fell from the grip of Lindir and hung in the air. The blood dripped from her fingers, giving them a a foreboding glimpse into what had happened. Thorin looked at Fili with a doleful frown. The lad was torn apart inside. His grief stricken face made Thorin straighten and place a firm hand on his shoulder.
Fili only nodded. The silent understanding was all he needed to relax. Emma would survive this. She just had to. She said she would...
"Will she be alright?..." Gandalf asked as he watched Lindir walk away with her.
Lord Elrond gave him a side glance and sighed. "We will know soon enough.." He turned to the Wizard fully and gave him a curt nod. "Gandalf.."
The wizard nodded back with respect. "Lord Elrond."
"My friend, where have you been?" Gandalf asked.
"We've been hunting a pack of Orcs that came up from the south." Elrond took a few steps toward his horse to retrieve an orcish sword. "We slew a number near the hidden pass...which is where I found the dwarf and Emi."
With the sword in hand he strode over to Gandalf with a very suspicious look on his features. He was still uncertain whether the girl he had brought with him was indeed Emi, or if this was just some trickery brought on by sorcery.
"She is real, my friend." Gandalf seemed to pick up on the doubt and smiled.
"How is it possible? She fell in battle...I witnessed her death..." Elrond was beginning to anger with each word that came from his lips, though it did not show on his face. HE was upset by how someone who was already dead could be alive, right in his arms.
"I will tell you all that I know, but do not tell the dwarves...they have yet to figure it out." Gandalf did not have the answer as to how Emi was alive, but he knew that he could bring some light on the situation.
Elrond turned to look at the dwarves with a nod and spotted one that he recognized instantly. The dwarves began to step forward as Elrond finally acknowledged their presence. Thorin led the way, looking at the elf with as much hate as he could muster in his cold stare.
Lord Elrond was not wary of the look and stepped forward to greet the newcomers. "Welcome, Thorin, son of Thrain."
"I do not believe we have met." Thorin was surprised the elf knew his name.
"You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled under the Mountain." Elrond was trying hard to make nice with the dwarves...but of course Thorin would be the one to make an ass of himself.
"Indeed? He made no mention of you." The King Under the Mountain was not fairing too well with the elves, but being graceful and polite, Elrond was not upset and instead offered them to take part in an evening meal. In elvish.
"What is he saying? Does he offer us insult?" Gloin was not having any of that sort of talk. He was ready for a fight.
"No, Master Gloin. He is offering you food." Gandalf was quick to fix the situation. Elrond knew the dwarves would not understand what he had asked...therefore making an almost messy predicament.
When the word 'food' came out of Gandalf's mouth, the dwarves stilled and all thoughts of fighting ceased. They eyed each other and huddled together to discuss the matter...which took little discussion at all. Food was something they did not take lightly. They turned back just as quickly as they gathered.
"Well, in that case, lead on." Gloin spoke for the group.
Gandalf and Elrond smirked at the company. It was so easy to entice a dwarf. Lord Elrond began to ascend the stair with Gandalf close behind him, leading the dwarves, when a voice stopped them all.
"Wait! What of Emma?" Kili and Fili stood at the foot of the stairs. Both were more than worried above the young woman who was under their charge.
"Will she heal? When can we see her?" Fili added.
Elrond looked upon the two young Durin heirs and sighed. He shifted his footing at the top of the stairway, pushing his cape behind him. His thoughts drifted to the woman who he had not seen in in centuries. Long centuries. She was as fragile now as she was then...but the ferocity in her eyes...that was what had drawn him to her. Many who fought along side her fed off the fierce way she fought. Even Elrond himself had gained much from the well trained Maia who came from the undying lands to save Middle Earth from the darkness.
Emi. Her name brought a smile to his lips. She had been a dear friend to many.
"Lord Elrond?" Gandalf's voice brought him back to reality.
The elf lord looked back at the awaiting company. He was sure Emi would make it out of this...she was a strong woman.
"Emma, was it?" Curious as to why they called her that. Gandalf would have much to explain. "She will be just fine, Master Dwarf."
"How can you be sure?" Fili spoke again, taking a few cautious steps up the stairs.
Elrond looked into the eyes of this dwarf. There was an emotion behind his eyes that brought a smirk onto the elf lord's face. Of course he would be so worried about Emi. The dwarf was enamored with her.
"I have known 'Emma' for quite some time. She will be well in time. I can promise you that."
Thorin sneered at the notion. Trust a promise made by an elf? Absurd. What annoyed him more so than the promise was what Elrond had said before that. How had he known Emma? Was she an elf-friend? She indeed was the size of a dwarf, but how could a dwarf be so bold as to become friends with elves? The mere thought brought a frown on his lips.
At Lord Elrond's words, the group began to one again ascend the stairs. Fili and Kili stood at the end of the stairs, still looking unsure about Emma's fate. Fili narrowed his eyes as he looked at the retreating backs of his companions. They most likely agreed that she would be fine, but he couldn't believe it without seeing her himself.
Kili placed a hand on Fili's shoulder, bringing him back from his thoughts. "I believe him.."
Fili gave his brother a long thoughtful look before he smiled and nodded. Kili was probably that only person who knew how he felt right now. Kili led him up the stairs to join the others for what would be a rather disappointing supper.
"How is that possible, Gandalf?" It had been a full day and a half since the dwarves had arrived. Gandalf had finally come to Elrond with the story of 'Emma'.
"I am just as much in the dark, my friend. She is indeed Emi, but I fear that she may havebeen brought here with ill intentions." Gandalf gave his opinion as he took a puff of his pipe. The cool crisp air carried the smoke away as it floated from the Grey Wizards lips.
"It still perplexes me. I do understand that in some sense, the Ainur may have survived and passed onto another form...but being brought back to this time? Iluvatar himself would only have the power to do something so astounding." Elrond was in a state of fascination and unease. What form of creature had the ability to bring her back?
"I recall discussing an evil that had taken Dol Guldur.. Radagast confirmed what I had already knew. When I was there the first time...well it was a rather unfortunate situation." He did not like to talk about what had happened while he was in the dungeons of Dol Guldur.
Gandalf had went there with the suspicion that a dark power was residing there. When he arrived he was ambushed and placed into a holding cell. Normally he would have been able to get away... but the power that laid in that place kept him from fighting off anyone. While in there...he had endure terrible torture. He was more than glad he escaped with his sanity. Gandalf had left that place with new information, a map, and a key.
"That will be discussed in time, but for now...you should get some rest." Elrond gave Gandalf a curt nod and left the wizard on the balcony of his room.
Gandalf made little effort to say anything in return. The Grey Wizard had much on his mind as of late. Elrond left him without a second glance and walked down the long halls of his home. In the distance he could here the laughter of the dwarves who had taken up refuge in one of the courtyard balconies.
Elrond stopped to look out one of the open windows to see a light from their fire glow brightly. Their laughter brought a smile to his face. They were comfortable. He was glad they were at ease in his home. His sharp eyes spotted the young Durin heirs leaning against pillars. They both looked tense. He couldn't blame them. Both had come to his elves several times asking for Emma. How very sad it must be for them to agonizingly wait for word on their woman.
He took his gaze away from the dwarves and walked down the hall. His plan was to check in on Emi, who was indeed healing quickly. She had awoken almost an hour after the healers were done with her and asked of her friends. The were smart enough to give her something 'for the pain' and she fell back into a peaceful sleep.
Elrond finally made it to her room and placed a gentle hand on the wooden door. He had not spoke with her about anything yet. In fact, he was more than nervous about it, an emotion he was less than familiar with. All that Gandalf told him made it very difficult to believe that this was her at all...but it had to be.
With a heavy sigh and went to open the door.
'I am with her. Do not fill your mind with trepidation. I will speak with her.' Galadriel had arrived. She would be here for several days before Saurumon arrived. Her voice was always angelic when it entered the mind.
Elrond smirked and gave a nod. Galadriel is much more fitting to deal with this than he. She could bring the woman named Emma to know of her past. There was nothing the Lady of Light could not accomplish with a little elven magic.
Elrond walked away from the door knowing by the time Galadriel was done with her, she would know more than she did now. Perhaps she would be as she once was...those thousands of years ago.
Year 3441 of the Second Age. The Siege of Barad-dur.
"Ready yourselves!" Emi shouted with a fury behind her words that gave those under her command the confidence to fight such a formidable foe.
The Last Alliance of Elves and Men was at the summit of Mount Doom. Beneath the mountain they fought orcs and creatures of darkness that came up from the ground like poisoned plants. They never ceased to end.
Emi was the commander of the 50,000 dwarves sent to fight in the largest battle known to middle earth It took little to convince Durin IV to fight along side her. He stood beside her in all his greatness, ironically wearing his ring that had been forged to rule under the Ring of Power. She did not know why he would wear it, but dwarves could be greedy at times...a flaw she wished her father had fixed. Emi looked upon the force coming at them and felt her body tense. The sight before her was chaos.
The amount of bodies in the battlefield was like a sea of armor. She watched as the army of Sauron came closer to their position. This battle had already taken several days and she was bone tired. Luckily, her dwarves had taken only few casualties. She thanked Aule, her father, everyday for creating such strong, stubborn, and hardy beings. Sure it had upset her at first, but at this moment, she was glad they were with her. Glad they believed in her.
This war had taken seven years to get to this point. Seven years had she been fighting almost every day. Seven years for her to lose every ounce of innocence. She was now a veteran of battle. Even after the centuries of trying to protect her, Aule could not keep her from the darkness that was slowly swallowing the physical plains.
She grimaced as the battle had once again come to her. She let out a war cry and the thousands of dwarves around her raised their weapons in the air, giving her a cry back. In seconds they were engulfed in another battle. The small rest they had did little to aid their tiring bodies. The elves had held off the forces for as long as they could, but now it was time for the dwarves to push back what ground had been lost.
These orcs and goblins were nothing to her dwarves. She had been the one to hone their skills and bring them to the strength they were at now. She had been the one to call them to the battle, knowing this would be her only chance to destroy the monster who had brought such misery to this world.
Emi was amidst the chaos, far within the depths of the battle, when she found an unexpected friend fighting beside her.
She swung her hammer, Fauilosdring, back and crashed it into the head of a large orc who meant to run her through. She was so concentrated on the orc in front of her she did not notice the one behind her who was attempting to strike her down with a bloodied, jagged blade. The orc suddenly fell beside her with an arrow in its head.
When Emi looked up from the orc who had startled her, she saw Elrond standing there with his bow still vibrating from the release.
"Elrond!" Emi had little time to give a greeting when another blade was coming her way.
The two moved in closer to fight against the hordes of creatures that came at them. Elrond had taken out a few orcs with his sword and turned to see Emi was bashing orcs with her white hammer. One that had been given to her by Aule himself. The hammer was a powerful weapon in her hands.
"Move!" Elrond was suddenly pushed aside and in a white blur a orc's head was caved in. Emi spun and looked at him with a smirk. "Would you like to take a break? You seem to have other things on your mind."
Elrond gave her a grin. It had been the first time he had smiled since this battle had begun. This war had taken its toll on all races and to see that she could jest at a time like this...well it brought a smile onto his dried lips. Even an elf could be weighed down by the immense heat that surrounded Mount Doom.
His eyes stared into Emi's green ones and for a moment, he was at ease. She had a way with bringing peace to a chaotic moment. If he had a choice...but he was not worthy of someone so powerful.
"I'll try not to be ensnared by your divine battle skills, my lady" It was all her could get out before the fighting continued.
They had little time to converse after that. Emi had found herself torn away from her friend and pushed into the heat of the battle. She swung her hammer with a force that was so great,it took out several orcs at once. Being the daughter of Valars made all the difference in a fight.
She pushed against her enemies and fought with all that she had. This was going to end, even if it took her an eternity to finish it. She'd fight until her body was no more.
It was in a split second that she had looked up and saw a light that flashed before her eyes. The last thing she saw before she blacked out was an orcish hand descending on her.
When she finally came to, she was in a room. A dark room. What had happened? Her body ached from the battle and her head hurt from what ever blow had been dealt to her. Emi leaned up carefully, realizing she was on a makeshift bed of straw and cloth. The straw crinkled in her hand when she brought it up to her face. She threw it to the side and stood.
It was obviously a dungeon, but it did little to hold out the sound of the battle outside. She was unsure how she had been captured. Not many beings could knock her out with a single blow...it would have to be a powerful creature.
That was when her thoughts were interrupted by the heavy doors being unlocked. The door screamed as it opened slowly. Emi took careful steps away from the black doors, reaching for her hammer as a reflex. When she realized it was not there, she pushed herself against the wall of the dungeon in the darkest corner.
A large figure appeared in the doorway. A large, black armored hand gripped the metal frame and pulled a tall creature inside. The moment the tall helmet came into view she knew who it was. Sauron.
The Lord of Barad-dûr had come to visit his captured mouse. He was taller than she had remembered. In fact, she was sure he had never been taller. His head slowly peered from one side of the room to the other until his eyes must have landed on her.
"You can not hide from me, Emi. I know you are in here. I can see your light." A dark voice slithered up her spin and caused her to shutter.
With a heavy sigh she stepped from the corner and into the middle of the room. Sauron moved closer, towering over her. Being about the size of the tallest dwarf did little to stand up to his own stature. She felt her neck crack when she had to look up to him.
"Why have you brought me here?" She dared to speak out. The hate in her eyes was a fire brighter than that of Mount Doom.
She was unable to read any expression on Sauron's face. The helmet obscured any inclination of how he felt as it covered his most likely hideous face.
Sauron raised a hand to strike her and Emi squeezed her eyes shut as she winced, ready for the pain...but it did not come. Instead a gentle finger touched her face. Her eyes snapped open and she looked up to Sauron.
"You are still beautiful...How I have missed the sight of your face...the call of your voice. You have changed little in these long years."
The softness in his voice took her off guard. In the years that had followed his departure from Valar, he had not once been so kind. Even when she had been in his presence before...he had spat nothing but hatred from his lips.
"Why are you saying this?" Emi was confused beyond comprehension.
"My sweet Emi...I am giving you one last chance. Join me...stay with me." He gripped her shoulders tightly.
All she could do was stare up into his void eyes. There was nothing there for her to hold onto. Only his voice had the smallest reminder of who he once was.
She slowly brought a hand up to touch one of the large hands on her shoulders. "Marion..." She removed the hand from her shoulder and stepped away from his grasp. "You know I will not."
He stared at her silently before his outstretched hands gripped into fists and they fell to his sides. "Why must you deny me? Why must you turn away from me once again!"
"Mairon, you know the reason why.."
"Is it because I can no longer hold a fair body! Because I can no longer be what you want! Would you prefer a dwarf or an elf ..or even a Numenor? How many times have you laid with-" Now he was going too far.
"I have not laid with one being since you! I have not touched any male counterpart...not when they can not live up to the love I once had..." She was surprised she had went so far as to tell him that, but the end seemed near.
His tense stature relaxed slightly at the news. Perhaps he was happy she had not laid with another.
"Do you not love me?"
The silence in the room was deafening. Literally. Emi could barely hear a thing after that question. Just the breathing that came from her own lungs. The air rushed in and stayed there, holding in place. Did she still love him? What they once had...who they had been to one another...
"No, Sauron. I do not love you. I loved Mairon." There. She had said it. This was no longer the Mairon she had loved. This was a creature who wanted nothing more than to destroy every living being who would not bend to his will.
Sauron stiffened. There was a sudden change in atmosphere within the room that caused Emi to take a cautious step back. She had been on thin ice...but it would seem that now she had found that paper-thin spot where she had fallen through...into the icy abyss.
"I will take this world and crush all. Freedom is a foolish belief...why can you not see that?" His heavy footsteps came toward her, clinking as he moved in his armor.
Though she was weary of her fragile position, she needed to stand up to him. Make him see that is was wrong. She stepped up to him, once again putting herself far too close.
"Middle Earth is not yours to take. You will fail...and you will never get what you want." She stared up at him with a fierce tenacity. One he had never witnessed from her before.
It angered him to see her stronger than the woman she once was. Now she was against everything he stood for. She fought against everything he was fighting for.
Complete surprise took Emi as Sauron slammed her into the hard, grimy brick wall. She hissed as the pain shot up her back. She cracked an eye open to the evil creature that now stood before her. Gone was the semi-coherent Maia. Here was the monster that was hell bent on ruling all of Middle Earth...and eventually all of Arda.
"I may be unsuccessful in taking Middle Earth...but you will be easy to dominate." His statement left everything to the imagination.
Suddenly he was throwing her across the room with so much force, she felt like her body had broken. Emi struggled to get her bearing. She pulled herself up onto her knees, using a wall chain to hoist herself from the dirty floor.
She had little time to recover. Sauron was on her once more. He grabbed her by the back of the neck and brought her to her feet. Her pushed her against the dungeon wall, pressing her chest into it. He lifted her off her feet and leaned his armored body against her, effectively pinning her in place.
She fought to remove herself from him, but when he spoke into her ear, all struggled ceased.
"I'll take from you what you gave to me willingly so long ago...my body may not be the beauty it once was, but I hope you'll enjoy it regardless." She could feel him grinning. She couldn't see it, but she knew his sanity was gone and that wicked grin would shine through any layer of armor.
"Don't bother screaming. No one shall hear you."
What happened next was the most traumatic experience Emi had ever been through. Nothing had brought so much fear into her heart. Sauron defiled her within the Dark Tower and broke the very spirit he had once loved.
When it was over, Emi was sprawled out upon the makeshift bed, naked and bleeding from her wounds. The once green eyes were now void of any life. After the first hour she had left herself dead to the world around her. She felt nothing.
Sauron stood over his handy work...but he did not smile. He just looked down at what he had done to the once beautiful Emi. He had wanted to make her feel pain, but instead that was all her felt. He sneered at the the emotion that boiled beneath his skin. He turned to leave when her voice stopped him.
"You will be defeated..." When he turned to look down at her, her face was still stoic. No emotion appeared on her features. Her eyes were still glazed over with a blank stare.
"And when you are defeated, I hope you never return to this path...I hope you hide for all eternity, cowering in some damp cavern...because if you try again, I will come for you...and I will break you, just as you did me.." Her voice never wavered from the hate that flowed off her lips. Every word was a dagger to his soul-less heart.
He raised his hand to his mace and picked up the weapon he had used to destroy so many creatures. He looked upon the broken woman and put aside any feelings he had for her. He would not let her live. She would fight him every step of the way if he tried to keep her for himself. And what would that say if he left a prisoner alive?
He was no longer Mairon. He was Sauron, the Dark Lord of Mordor...he didn't need a reminder of what he used to be. That was how he justified what he was about to do. He would eradicate the only thing he loved more than power.
Slowly he brought the mace over his head as a small light illuminated it's blunt edges. With his power running through the weapon, he brought it down upon Emi.
A flash of light and a searing pain engulfed her...and then there was nothing.
EMMA POV
I sat up with a startled scream. My eyes darted about the room like I was expecting him to be there. What the hell had just happened? I had no idea what I had just experienced, but the pain I had felt within the dream was real. My skin still felt like it was burning. I ran a hand through my hair and winced at the way I raised my arm.
I glanced down to see where the pain had come from and saw bandages wrapped tightly around my midsection. Then I noticed I was completely naked beneath the linen. I gasped and snatched the blanket, pulling it to my chest. I had no idea if someone had been in the room.
"Do not worry yourself over such things, child. It is only myself within these walls." The mystical female voice startled me enough to turn a little too quickly in bed, once again causing pain to my ribs.
A woman stepped from the balcony of my room. At first I did not know who she was, but then the light of the moon hit her face and I stopped my movements completely. The blonde hair cascaded down her body and the life in her skin glowed like a fire. She was just as radiant as the first time I saw her. Wait...
"Galadriel.." I said the word almost as though I had expect her.
She gave me a wry smile and walked elegantly to a chair next to my bed. She watched me for a moment, taking in my face and searching my eyes for some answer she must have had a question to. Well I have news for her...I had no idea what was going on so she was on her own.
"On my own? Now, Emma I do not believe I am the only one here..You have been on quite some journey if I am not mistake." Her voice lifted off her lips in waves of purity, but held a silent curiosity behind it.
"My Lady..." She must have known something about the path that led me here. Of course she did. She was the Lady of Lorien.
She lazily put up a hand and continued to smile. "You have many questions...some I can indeed answer."
Questions? Oh, yea that's right. I forgot I have been running around this place not knowing if I was dead or not.
"Am I...Is this just some dream or am I really dead?"
She let out a small chuckle and shifted carefully in the chair, leaning forward a bit more.
"You're story is a very complicated one." She said in a soft, confident voice.
"You, are Emi. Daughter of Aule and Yavanna. Your creation is one that I, myself, do not fully comprehend. The Valar have a mystical way of bringing about life. You were a Maia, much like Gandalf and Radagast. You were born before dwarves, before they were in the mind of Aule. He made you in the image of what he thought was a strong Maia, but your mother gave you the softness and beauty that he did not desire."
"So...I'm not a dwarf.." That was the question I asked? Really? Not 'what the hell did you just say?' or 'I'm a what!?' Nope.
She smiled amusingly at me. "You are not a dwarf. You were born far beyond the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves. It is because of you that they were created...Aule saw how easily you were swayed and how soft your nature was. He wanted to create beings that would be strong and unyielding, and not willing to endure the domination of others."
"...I was swayed?" Then it hit me what she had meant. "By Mairon." Everything that she was saying made perfect sense to me. Like I knew it all because I had lived it.
She nodded slowly. "Indeed. Aule had doubts of Mairon's ability to stay loyal to Iluvatar. Though he trusted him, he feared he would be lured into Morgorth's darkness."
"And I was his lover.." I felt like a thousand bugs had begun crawling on my skin. If I could wash my skin off, I would have definitely done it right then and there. I closed my eyes and shivered at the thought of his body against mine...and then a sudden flash of warmth hit me. He had once been beautiful...once fair...
I shook my head and opened my eyes to Galadriel smirking at me.
"We have all been in love at one time or another...you can not erase what has already been done."
"Why am I here? And how is this all real? This.." I motioned with my hands. "All of this, is just in some book written by some guy who had a rather large imagination."
Ha. Explain that.
"This author...he may have just been a Ainur that was able to recall the history of our creations. It is not unheard of. I am thousands of years old and I can remember the smallest details. Perhaps this being thought it was time to write it all down for those who do not know."
Well...She had me there. That could very well be true.
"As for why you are here now...I am still unsure. Perhaps Iluvatar felt something was amiss and make the decision to bring you back in time...using your death in the future as the perfect opportunity..or...something darker is at work." Her expression became wary and foreboding.
I did not like the sound of that. This was all so very confusing. If this was all real and what I knew in the future were just history books...then I definitely knew what was going to happen and things were already starting to change.
"You know much more than you should...but if this is indeed the will of Iluvatar, then you are in a terrible position. If you fall into the hands of the enemy...it could be devastating."
I nodded. She was right. I knew far too much. I sighed and leaned my back against the headboard of the bed. I rubbed the bridge of my nose in frustration. I still had many more questions...and little time to get them answered.
"What about my dreams? Every time I sleep or pass out I get these vivid dreams..."
"Those are not dreams...they are memories. Your untimely demise must have caused your Ainur to open itself fully. To awaken itself. They will continue coming until all is remembered. It may be much easier now that I have told you who you are...Your abilities may even return to you. Skills and powers you may have forgotten."
I leaned my head back and looked up to the ceiling. This was never going to end then...
I looked to the side, where Galadriel had been sitting, but she was gone. I looked about the room in shock. She was no where to be seen. The balcony curtains blew in as a breeze passed through the valley. It brought with it flower petals that fell from the trees in the garden below.
"You will find your path soon, My Lady." I was caught off guard by Galadriel's voice. I looked over and saw her standing by the door.
Holy fuck. That's not creepy at all.
We held gazes for what seemed like an eternity. She gaze me a soft smile and left the room, silently shutting the door as she went. I kept my gaze on the door for a moment, wondering how this was all happening. I pulled my eyes away from the door and looked down at my hands that laid in my lap.
How was I supposed to find a path? Am I still supposed to follow the dwarves...do I still continue going to Erebor? Who was I supposed to be...
"Am I to be Emi...or Emma?" I asked myself in a low whisper. The question had been on my mind the entire time Galadriel spoke to me.
'You are to be both. Emi and Emma are one in the same. They are you.' I let out a small laugh. I knew she would answer...she always did.
I ran a hand through my hair, much harder than I had anticipated and leaned my head back too far hitting my head on the board.
I winced, not only at the bang I just gave my poor skull, but from my ribs that were still sore. My mind drifted back to what Galadriel said. I was indeed both. I had memories from my life in the future...and the life I had in the past. I was both...but for now, I would suck it up and answer to both. I was sure I would run into more people who wold call me Emi and it would be far easier than having to correct them.
My stomach rumbled. I rolled my eyes and knew I had not eaten in a day or two. I still had no idea how long I had been out, but my stomach was indicating a fairly long while without food. I pulled back the blankets and grabbed a silken robe that was laid out a a table near the balcony.
It was still dark out, which hopefully meant that I would not have to see anyone but the person in charge of food. I felt like I could eat a whole cow
I wrapped the robe around my body and tied it firmly at my waist. Shoes? Nah. I walked to the door with my bare feet hitting the surprisingly warm stone floors and opened it slowly. Poking my head out the door I saw no one down either sides of the hall. Thank Aule. I did not want to run into anyone in this.
The soft silken robe flowed around my feet in a waves as the wind picked up. The windows I passed by opened the moon light to me in the most intimate of ways. It touched my skin and pulled my eyes to its alluring brightness. I had to actually stop, just so I could take in the radiance of the place. Below the window was the garden, where the brightly colored blossoms covered the trees and swayed as the air flowed through it. There were flowers strewn about the garden floor in a sea of serenity. The only open space was the green walkway lit by lanterns on thin posts that seemed to defy gravity.
This place...I had been here before. I had been here more times than I could count. It was all familiar. I smiled brightly and leaned against the railing as I looked out at what was before me. I remember being happy...I remember how I used to run the halls with excitement when I visited. It was so strange knowing I had been here before when I knew physically I had only been here once.
"Are you at home here, Lady Emma?" I turned to see Elrond standing there with a tray of bread, cheeses, and fruit in an assortment of colors. Bright and vibrant with freshness.
I blinked and stared at him. I knew him longer than anyone here. He was my friend and I was his. Three thousand years ago we had fought beside each other in glorious battle.
"Is something amiss, My Lady?" He raised an eyebrow at the way I was just staring at him. I'm sure I looked like a git, but I couldn't help myself.
Before either one of us could say another word, I was running at him and throwing myself in his arms. And, like a sally, I cried. I cried because I remembered him. I cried because I was still so lost even though I could remember things I had never physically been through. It was all rushing at me in a wave of emotion that I couldn't control.
I heard the try of food hit the ground and his light arms encircling me, pulling me tighter into his embrace. We stayed like this for what seemed like hours. Not once did he release me. He didn't say a word or try to sit me down. Elrond held me, because he knew I needed it. He knew I needed to hold someone I was close to...someone I had missed.
When I finally wiped my tears away with a free hand, I leaned back to look up at him. I was surprised to see he only had tears in his eyes. He smiled down at me with a warmth I had not seen in years. That smile was one that I had seen many times.
"You may call me as you remember me, my friend." The words came out in a soft whisper, but I knew he heard it. Elves didn't have those ears for nothing.
"You are just as I recall. The brightest star in the sky." He said as he laid his hands on my shoulders.
I blushed under his heavy stare. It was nice to hear compliments when you were not used to them.
"Ah, a blush! I see I can still bring out life in you yet." He laughed lightly and brought a hand onto my cheek, cupping it gently.
"I see you are still the charmer..." I sighed and turned to look out the window, away from his arms. "Things are so much more different now.."
Elrond put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. "It has been three thousand years...we are at peace now."
I shook my head and turned to him. "You and I both know that is not true.."
There was a knowing look in his eyes that told me he already knew much of what I spoke. Gandalf must have told him something about the Necromancer...who I knew to be Sauron. If only he knew the how dire the situation really was.
His features turned into a nervous smile and he led me away from the window. "You should not worry yourself about it right now. You are still recovering."
I sighed and nodded. He was right. I was still sore from the warg incident...and I was still hungry.
"I shall retrieve another tray of food and bring it to your room. Why don't you find the bathing room. Do you need an escort to locate it?"
He knew what made me happy. A good bath and amazing food would put me at 100%. Or 80. Didn't matter, as long as I felt better. As for where it was...I knew this place inside out.
I smirked and looked down the hall. "No need. I can find it."
Elrond smiled and pushed me forward lightly, to get me going. I glanced back at him with a raised eyebrow, but his back was turned to me as he leaned down to pick up the mess on the floor.
I turned away, thankful that I had ran into him, and made my way down the winding halls. My feet barely made a sound as I padded down the stone corridor towards the bathing room. I recalled the large room from memory. It was a room within the side of the mountain where a spring pulled in the water from the river, warming it up to a tolerable temperature. The room was always filled with steam and the large pools were clear and clean. It would make the grumpiest person in the world turn into a giddy fool.
I continued down the hall until I came to an archway leading over a bride. The bridge went over the the river and to the other side where a path brought me to a door flush against the valley wall. I opened it and stepped in. Within this room was an area to dress down and set your belongings. A female elf was standing in wait. She saw me and smiled.
"My Lady, how may I be of service?"
I only glanced at her as I looked at the larger doors that led into the bathing room. I was so excited that I completely stepped around her and walked for the door.
"Oh! My Lady, please wait!" I thought she just wanted to help me take my robe off, but I didn't need help undressing. I'd just set it beside the pool so it would be closer to grab.
My hands firmly pushed against the door and I walked in, leaving the bumbling elf behind me nervously trying to call me back. She really wanted to do her job...
I rolled my eyes and continued into the misty room. When I came into view of the pool, I stopped in my tracks.
Blimey...
My brain was not prepared for the company of dwarves, and Bilbo, to be within the spring. Dori, Nori, Bofur, and Dwalin sat on the edge of the pool while Balin, Oin, Gloin, Ori, Bombur, Bifur, Thorin, and Bilbo sat within the heated waters.
Okay, if I just back up...maybe I could sneak away without them-
"Miss Emma? Miss Emma, is that you?" Bilbo...You asshole.
Suddenly everyone had their heads turned to where Bilbo was looking and yep...they were looking at me. Then there was an outburst of greetings and cheers that I was alive...something I had not expected.
"Lass, you're alive!" Gloin shouted out. There was a lot of that.
"Uh...yea. Alive and well..." I laughed nervously and started to back away.
"Emma?" I froze. Behind me was a voice that I had not wanted to hear.
Slowly I turned and saw the faces of Fili and Kili. Where the hell had they been hiding? I looked at Kili, who was grinning form ear to ear, and then to Fili, who was in shock.
"How are you fairing?" Kili was the first to speak.
"I...am well." I said quietly. I was so happy to see him. I missed my partner in crime.
"Are your wounds healing?" Fili seemed to throw himself back into serious mode, the one that had him acting regal and respectful. A nice sentiment, but I knew it was not him.
"They are...and I-" My eyes had wandered down in an attempt to not make eye contact.
BIG MISTAKE.
What I had seen was too much skin and not enough clothing. In fact, there was no clothing. My face flushed and I quickly covered my eyes.
"Oh my god! My eyes! Why are you not wearing clothes!?" I blurted out in my shock.
Kili laughed and replied. "I think the right question is why are you wearing any at all? Oompf!"
It sounded as thought Fili had just elbowed his younger brother hard enough to knock the wind out of him.
"I should go..." I quickly ran passed them, listening to the calls that followed my wake.
"Aw, come on lass! We're not that ugly!" I heard Bofur poke fun as I ran from them. The other dwarves laughed around him. This was a situation I would not hear the end of.
I made my way out of the steam and found the door. I opened it and rushed into the cool air. My face was still hot and I knew I was out of breath...but not because I had just run to get out of there. I slammed the door behind me and sighed heavily.
"I should not have gone in there..." I said to myself.
"I tried to warn you, My Lady." The she-elf smiled nervously. She was embarrassed enough for the both of us.
"Yea...thanks.." I said sarcastically as I left the room and tried to clear my head enough to make my way back to my own room.
Note to self: Always know where the dwarves were located. May cause awkward situation otherwise.
OKAY! There it was! :) Please remember that the more reviews I receive, the faster I update! Please review!