Anxiously, she looked up and and gazed deep into his eyes and without a care to who was watching, he stole her breath away, and vowed never to give it back. All without saying a word, he took no prisoners and left her gasping for breath. Across the crowded room she sneaked glances at him, knowing that he didn't even notice her. That was the price of loving a stranger. Even the casual clash of gazes didn't make him aware of the elleth watching him. She had known him in her dreams in every way possible, yet when the dreams faded away and the sunlight appeared, she didn't know him at all. He was there on a quest, a quest that would lead him away from her, perhaps to his very death. Yet as he located his companions in the crowd, it wasn't fear or doubt that clouded his eyes, it was sorrow. Sorrow of the death of a friend. Sorrow that as an elf, left him alienated from his own people, from his own self.
"Enel, whatcha doin' there in the corner? This is a party, why aren't you celebrating?" asked a voice suddenly from behind her. Whirling around, shocked at being caught unaware, she saw her best friend. The elf who accepted her for who she was.
"Findecáno, I didn't see you there. Or hear you for that matter. I'm just not feeling like celebrating tonight. It doesn't feel right. It is only proper to have a banquet in our guests' honor but it doesn't feel right with Mirthandir gone... It makes me feel sad."
Peering closely at his friend that he had known for many years he saw the shadows in her eyes. He also saw what she was trying to hide from everyone, the longing that she felt, and the shame that she felt for wishing to be anywhere else. Not knowing what to say, Findecáno put his arm around his friend and hugged her close to his side. "Don't worry En, everything will work out."
Leaning back to look in his eyes with unshed tears in her eyes "And what if it doesn't?" Silence.
"It has to. Besides, you are no longer an efling, you are a fully grown elf and nothing, nothing, can hold you back. Take your sorrow and build it, work it. Don't let it take you, take it. Go, I'll cover for you."
"Thnak you, Findecáno. Don't ever change." With a kiss on his cheek, she slowly crept around to the door and disappeared, a wisp of silver material trailing behind her.
Running to her room in the castle, she climbed the stairs in mere seconds using her agile gait, a trait handed down to her from her father. Once inside her room she stripped off her silver gown, and hurriedly changed into her archery clothing. Slinging her arrow case over her shoulder, and with bow in one hand, she walked to the nearby forest target range and chose a target. Placing all her anger, despair, longing and sadness into her arrows, she let the bow sing for hours, sending arrow after arrow, one after another into the target, always in the same spot, splitting the arrows with the force of her emotions. Unknown to her, high up in the trees, eyes watched the elf sling her arrows.
Awakened by a slight rapping at her door, Enelya jumped out of her bed, still dressed in her archery getup, and went to the door. "Lady Galadriel wished to speak with you." Proclaimed the elf at her door. "Come now, you have no time to change." Unable to refuse, Marlie followed the elf to the queen's chambers.
Standing at the doors, Curufinwë Tinehtelë, one of the many royal soldiers, and Enelya's friend, opened the door for her, his elegant face stiff and unbending but once the messenger turned to leave, his face broke out into a grin for Enelya's benefit. The messenger, sensing something, turned to find the stoneface guard glaring at Enelya, and confused he walked away, telling himself that he did not see the infamously sour Curufinwë smile.
Cautiously, Enelya entered the queen's rooms to find the queen waiting for her. Despite knowing the queen her entire life, her extreme porcelaine beauty still stole her breath away. The impact wasn't like his but nevertheless, her breath was stolen. The woman with the white-blond hair and the dazzling blue eyes, beckoned her young charge forward. Not wasting a moment, the queen said, "Normally I would not even ask this question but I have seen things. Things that worry me. Do you trust in me? Trust in my decisions, do you believe that I want what's best for you?"
Shocked that her hero and queen doubted her loyalty and trust, it was all Enelya could do to say, " I trust you completely my Queen. Your voice is the one I trust more that any other, you speak of wisdom and knowledge that I have not," continuing on a bended knee, "you are the one above all others. I would do anything that you wished of me. Anything."
Smiling softly, Galadriel motioned her charge to her feet and said, "Thank you, you are truly special and one day many others will see it too. Wait here." Walking to the door she spoke a few words to Curufinwë and returned. Within moments, the queen sitting on her throne and Enelya behind to the side of her, the door opened and the most curious bunch entered. An elf, flanked by two humans, one dwarf, and four halfings. Knowing that they were the celebrated guests, Enelya tried not to gape at the halflings, having previously never seen them up close before. Even more challenging was to not gape at the elf.......... it was him! The elf that she had watched the night before, the elf that she always watched. The one that never noticed her, the one that still didn't. However, the rest of them didn't notice her either, which softened the blow. Perhaps her invisibilty was because they were blinded by the beauteous queen.
"Thank you for coming, fellowship. I presume that you are all eager to set out on your travels as soon as possible."
"We are, Lady Galadriel. We will leave with heavy hearts in two days time." replied one of the men, while bowing deeply.
Silence engulfed the room, as everyone, except for Lady Galadriel wondered why they were there. Minutes ticked by slowly before one of the hobbits began to fully take in the room, while his counterparts were still content to gaze at the elven queen. Looking around, he finally noticed Enelya and was taken aback. He had no idea that anyone besides the queen had been in the room. He inclined his head slightly toward her and gave her a little smile, all the while trying not to openly gape at the young beautiful elf before him. He had always been fascinated by the elves but even at Rivendale, he had not seen such magnetism before in an elf, her very power held him like that of the queen's. Acknowledging his greeting with a slight inclination of her head, Enelya could not help but smile. He was the last one she would have guessed to have noticed her.
"Samwise Gangee," spoke Galadriel breaking the silence in the young hobbit's mind, "you shall be greatly rewarded in the future. Your keen eyes and awareness of your environment, noticed what all your counterparts have not. Speak not to her or about her, just yet." Sam stunned at her words, nodded psychically.
Breaking the silence, Lord Celeborn entered the parlor through a side door. Aware of his wife's plans, he made no acknowledgement of Enelya, just that of the fellowship. Sitting next to his wife he too sat in silence, making it a test of willpower for two of the young hobbits, who were eager to learn their fate.
"Nine set forth from Rivendale, now eight remain. In everything Gandalf did, there was reason behind it, and whatever happened in the dark, happened because it was meant to. You must continue your journey without him, however you msut remain true to each other or else you shall fail." Lady Galadriel said softly. "You eight shall set forth on your mission two days hence, but you shall not leave alone. I too, see the power in nine and feel that it shall be benifical to all concerned, that another shall join you on your mission, making the same oaths that you did, oaths that were made freely and can be taken back at any moment." She continued, as the faces of the fellowship dropped with amazement and anger. "In this instance, the new member will be an elf."
A chorus of voices rang out.
"Another elf! You make us bring another elf!" roared the dwarf, drowning out others' protestations.
"Gimli, son of Gloin, you have much to learn about elves, and one day you shall learn much and understand." Interrupted Celeborn serenely.
"Frodo, young hobbit, I do not wish to replace Gandalf, but only to help you on your quest" told the lady to the young hobbit who held the ring of power in his possession. Frodo was still mourning the loss of his friend, but still, he tried to take in the queen's words.
"Who do you wish to join us?" questioned the man. Eagerly, Enelya leaned forward to hear the name of the elf who had been picked for this exalted position.
To everyone the queen seemed to become pensive, but on another wavelength, she talked to Enelya. "You, my daughter shall go in the name of Lothlorien, you shall go in the name of your ancesters. You shall do us proud." Shocked but flattered, Enelya shone like a beacon inside. "I shall do you proud my queen."
"Ward of the Lady of the Woods, Enelya Cúthalion shall accompany you." stated the queen.
" A woman, you wish to send a woman!" Thundered, the so far silent, other human.
"A mere woman she must not be. She is elven and up to any challenge, Boromir!" Responded the elf, not knowing that she was in the room, not even knowing who she was. Enelya couldn't help but feel sad that the only reason he came forward to defend her was because he too was an elf, not because he truly knew her.
"Of course one elf would stick up for the other, Prince Legolas!" Gimli sneered. "Bring her out and we shall see."
Aware that this was her moment to make a grand entrance, Enelya stepped forward and greeted her companions to be. "Greetings, Gimli, son of Gloin, Prince Legolas of Mirkwood, Samwise Gangee, Frodo Baggins, Peregrin Took, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Lord Estel (Aragorn), and Lord Boromir. I am Enelya Cúthalion." She spoke softly and made eye contact with each one as she spoke their names.
Taken aback by her appearance, "How long have you been spying on us!?!" demanded Boromir.
"I was here before you were here my Lord. You interrupted my audience with the Lady of the Woods. It is not my fault that you did not see me." Sputtering at her words, Boromir could do nothing but struggle for a comeback. However, none came, to his dismay. The hobbits looked almost in awe at her, Aragorn had a slight smile on his face, and Legolas had a shocked look upon his.
Before anyone else could say anthing, Lady Galadriel dismissed the men from the room, leaving Galadriel and Enelya alone. "Are you sure that you should send me with them?" Questioned Enelya.
"I am confident that you shall do all that you need to do." Answered the queen evasively. "Now you go, I need to think." With a slight bow, Enelya left the throneroom to return to her own.
This is my first fanfic so please be nice and review!