Chapter 1:

 

In the light of the spring sun, the elven-city of Rivendell was shining like a diamond. The air was fresh, yet warm for the season of the year and scented with leaves, earth and cool water falling down in glimmering cascades. From within the walls, the wind carried over sweet melodies, clear voices singing elvish melodies to the praise of everything bright and beautiful. The two women, who sat under a tree on the path leading to the city, listened attentively, the younger one with an enchanted expression on her face.

“It is fairer, than I always imagined it”, Leara said, “Never, in all the stories you told me and the songs you sang, was there so much beauty.”

“Songs and stories can never meet up with the truth,” Silistra answered. “You should know that.”

“I have never seen elves ” Leara said.

“You will. Soon.”

“Will my next mission lead me to Rivendell?” A certain nuance in Learas voice made Silistra look at her face. She seems to be very excited about this.

“Yes. But for now, I can only tell you this: be careful! You never dealt with the elves. They have sharp senses. Do not risk to be discovered!”

“I can handle this. Don’t be afraid, Sil.” Leara laughed. “You are not my nursemaid.”

“I am your guardian. And several occasions have shown that you indeed are in need of one.”

Leara stood up, brushing dust from her blue skirt and black robe.

“What are you doing?” Silistra asked, alarmed.

“I am going down. Before this mission begins, I want to have a look at them.” Leara bent down to her guardian and grinned. “Don’t worry, I’ll be invisible.”

Silistra watched the angel, as she descended the path down to the gates of Rivendell. She has to walk this path alone. I cannot help her in this one, I fear. Why do I have a bad feeling about this? Before Leara entered the elven city through its gates, she turned around and waved, a childlike smile on her face. The guardian sighed. After all these ages, we have been together, she still seems so innocent…Even the coldness of her work has not effected her soul, and for that I thank our maker!”

 

Leara slid through the open gates, making no sound at all. Even if she did, noone would have noticed her, because she commanded them not to see. For each and every person, elf or man, she was invisible now, not more than a whisper in the wind. The gates led into an open courtyard. Like a child who was seeing his first snow, Learas eyes widened at the glory of Imladris. Its silver columns and marble archways framed slender and delicately designed buildings. The colors were dominated by silver and white, light flowed through open archways and the sound of the elves’ singing was in the air. Everything seemed strange, but incredibly beautiful to Leara.

Soundlessly, she entered the main building, not disturbing any of the inhabitants and guests, who were lingering on white benches, reading or listening to elvish music. Leara spotted a few pairs, who were holding hands, sharing secret kisses and sweet words. Passing a couple, she smiled and asked herself, why the elves, both wise and powerful, were so ashamed of showing their feelings to the public.

The main hallway led her to a great hall, surrounded by huge murals, showing the main events of elvish history. Leara paid no attention to them; her major intererest was not in the past. She made her way southwards, passing three or four groups of elves, which she studied intensely. Every detail of their appearance and behaviour was noted in her mind and stored there for later use.

Invisible fingers stroke the silken fabrics of curtains and tableclothings, feeling their softness. Invisible lips curled in a smile, when an elf kissed the hand of his beloved lady. Invisible hands brushed the hair of the lovers, leaving a warm feeling in their hearts. And invisible feet made no sound as they descended the stairs to the chambers of Elrond, Lord of Rivendell. There Leara hesitated for a moment, not sure if she should enter the room. Voices of several men were heard. They sounded serious and a sudden feeling of unsureness overcame Leara. Not sure if she really wanted to know what the subject of matter was, she slowly stepped forward, peering around the corner. Seven elves were in the room, six of them sitting, circled around a dark, wooden table.

The seventh stood on its head and was speaking to the others. His back was turned towards Leara, so that she could not see his face. But she assumed that it had to be Elrond, Lord of Rivendell. His long dark hair fell loose down his back and his purple robes showed of his great importance. On his head he wore a circlet of silver and when he turned his head, it glimmered like stars mirrored in water. He was tall and slender, as elves usually are, but his stature and movements spoke of a past as a great warrior. Leara caught herself studying his hands intensely. They were delicate, but at the same time seemed to be very strong. Eager to catch a glance of his face, she silently slid forwards.

 

Elrond studied his audience. They had gathered here to discuss safety matters concerning the upcoming wedding of his daughter, Arwen, with Aragorn, King of Gondor. Orcs had been an increasing threat over the routes leading to Rivendell and Elrond was trying to figure out how to solve this problem before the wedding guests arrived. This was the reason he had his best men come to work out the shifts for the guards. To his left and to his right were Elrohir and Elladan, his sons. Next came Glorfindel, his closest advisor next to Gandalf. The captains of his guards, Cirion, Melorand and Gildor completed the council.

Elrohir cleared his throat. “I am sure, you are right, father, but will this be enough? It would be a bad omen if half of the wedding guests would be slain by orcs!”

“I do not want the feast to be disturbed. We have to handle this matter with as much discretion as possible. Your sister is already nervous. I don’t want anybody to lose their heads over this” Elrond replied. “Does anybody else have any suggestions?”

“We will double the watches on the northern pass,” said Cirion. “They usually come from this side of the valley. We will be prepared.”

Elrond nodded. “Make it so. Inform me of everything you do and…” A sudden movement in the corner of his eye caught Elrond’s attention. He turned his head, not really expecting to see anybody else than one of the servants, whose silent comings and goings mostly went unnoticed.

To his surprise, the woman he saw was none of his servants. At the first glance, Elrond thought that Arwen had sneaked into her father’s council. But then he realized that this was not his daughter. In fact, he had never seen her before. Beautiful she was, although something about her was… strange. She was no elf, but her beauty seemed to emit a bright light. Her dark hair flew openly down to her waist and she was all clad in blue, with a matching skirt and waistcoat. Over her shoulders, she wore a cape of black velvet. Elrond was startled. Why had he not been informed of the new guest?

“My lady?” he began. “I am sorry, but I have not been informed of your arrival.” At this, the strange woman frowned. Her eyes, remarkably green in her pale face, widened. She hastily withdrew, an expression of confusion on her face. Elrond narrowed his eyes. Who was she? With an inviting gesture, he made a step in her direction. “I did not want to appear unhostile,” he said. “Please, come. And be assured that you are welcome in my house.”

The panic on her face could not be overseen. Elrond was still wondering, what he had said or done to cause such fear, when the woman turned on her heels and fled the rooms, as silently as she had come. Puzzled, he watched her leave, then turned towards the council members.

“Who was that?”

“My Lord?” Glorfindel had risen from his chair.

“This woman! Do any of you know who she is?”

“A woman?” Elrohir echoed. “Where?”

“The woman who was just here!” Elrond looked from one to another. “Did none of you recognize her?”

“I’m sorry, father,” Elladan said, standing up. “I think, none of us, save you, even saw her.”

“What?! But she was standing over there at the door!” Desperate, Elrond moved towards the archway. “She was standing there, watching us. She had dark hair and a black cape. None of you saw her?” The council members exchanged confused glances. Noone would have openly mistrusted Elrond’s state of mind, but it was obvious, that they did not believe him. They had not seen anything, and Elrond doubted that it was just because they had been distracted by the orc problem. Apparently, only he had been aware of her presence.

“My Lord?” Glorfindel took his arm, looking concerned. “Are you all right?”

“Of course, never mind.” I guess, it must have been a ghost then, he thaught, allowing himself a mental laugh. I suppose I am going through some stress these days. Forcing a smile on his face, he turned towards the others and resumed the discussion.

 

Leara fled the hallways of Rivendell, her heart pounding hard in her chest. Her breath was going faster than usual, not only because of her rush. Never before had she been discovered, when she had been invisible. The puzzled expression on Elrond’s face still stood before her inner eye. He had kindly offered her to come closer and for a moment she had been tempted to follow his invitation. But the terror of being reveiled took over and she had the urge to flee. Flee from this elf with eyes, grey as storm clouds, who had seen right through her disguise.

Silistra was still sitting under the tree where Leara had left her before. From Learas face the guardian could read that something unintended had happened.

“What?!”

Leara froze. “Sil…” Her eyes were widened as with great fear and Silistra realized, that she trembled. What in all heavens could scare an angel that much?

“Hush, little one,” she murmured, tearing Leara to her chest. She stroke her hair and whispered comforting words in the angel’s tongue into her ear. “Tlin harad’urian, evrias mín… what happened?”

“He saw me… Sil, he saw me! How can it be possible, that he can, when I should be invisible to him?” Leara tore herself from the guardian’s embrace. “I was careful. I made myself invisible before I entered the city. Noone should have seen me. But he did. Why?”

“Slowly, my dear. Who saw you?”

“An elf. I think it was Elrond.” Leara sighed and sat down.

“Are you sure, that he really saw you? The elves have sharp senses, sometimes they feel our presence, but in a different way. And only the very talented ones are able to sense that we are there. Perhaps he felt a draught, a whisper in the wind. That is not so unusual for an elf of his powers. He…”

“He spoke to me!” Leara buried her head in her arms. Then an idea came to her mind and she turned towards her friend. “Sil, tell me the truth. Is he the reason, why I am here?”

Silistra studied Learas face. Her green eyes were fixed on her and demanded for an answer. Slowly she shook her head. “I do not know, why he could see you. But I can tell you that he is not to be the subject of your next mission.”

They both sat silent for a while. The sun set in the east, caressing the valley with her last rays of light. Finally, Leara broke the silence.

“Who then will it be?”

Silistra looked at her and smiled. “Let us look for a place where we can stay for the night. Then I will tell you everything you need to know. Tomorrow we will go to Rivendell.”

 

Lord Elrond walked into the hall of fire, dazed but angry. Since the incidents at the council meeting many of his subjects had kept their distance from him and whispered in his passing. Never had an elf suffered from delusions, or figments of the imagination, yet Elrond clearly believed that he had seen a woman in the archway of the room.  Many wondered if it was the ghost of his dead wife Celebrian, come back from the west to aid Elrond in the quest in protecting his guest for their daughter’s wedding.

Elrond shook his head; the woman he saw was… he did not know. If she was indeed a ghost why had she waited so long to make her presence known? There had been no deaths in Rivendell for over a thousand years, so there was no real reason why her spirit would haunt the waking world of his house, also why had she appeared only to him. To fair was she to be mortal and yet she bared no mark on her to say she was an elf. What she was, a mystery to him.

Elrond heaved a huge sigh and sat down in his favourite chair and tried to clear the fog from his mind. He should be thinking of other things, such as his daughter’s wedding. Yet the woman came silently back into his mind just as she had in the room. What had he done to offend or frighten the beautiful creature that would make her run, like she did? So deep was he in thought that he did not notice the presence of Gandalf until he spoke.

“Tell me old friend, do you see the girl still or was it the sun playing tricks with your eyes?” jested Gandalf as he took a set opposite the elf lord.  

“Spare me your mockery Mithrandir, I am already the topic of conversation, and the conversation is of ill words”

“I meant no offence Lord Elrond, I was merely trying to lighten your dark mood! Surely a spectre has not coursed you great distress.”

“Indeed she has, but not in an unpleasant way. For she haunts my thoughts with her beauty and the look of fear when I discovered her. It was if she had not expected me to see her, yet clearly I did.”

Gandalf’s eyes harden and he stared at Elrond, leaning over to him and spoke in a dire tone. “Describe her to me, Elrond, in every detail you can remember.” 

Elrond looked puzzled by his friend request but decided it could not hurt to tell him.

“She was tall, with dark hair that fell to her waist. She was very pale with dark green eyes. She was in blue skirt with a white shirt beneath a blue vest.”

“Tell me did she wear a black or a white cape behind her?”

“It was black”   

Gandalf fell back in to his chair, his breath seemed to have stalled in his breast, and his eyes darken in unspoken fear.  Elrond looked concerned for his friend and quickly stood up and went to his side.

“What is it Gandalf? What fear has captured you? Is it the woman?”

At the mention of the woman Gandalf suddenly stirred and stared at Elrond and took his hand.

“I’m fine my friend, fine. You say she left the moment you spoke to her?”

“Yes… she was, as I said, frightened. You seem to know her, Gandalf?”  

“Know her? No not personally anyway, but know what she is… maybe. But I cannot be certain and I would not wish to cause alarm without just cause! You best forget her my friend, she can only cause you grief.”

“You are probably right old friend! I will try and cast her from my mind but I fear it will be a hard task! Good night, Mithrandir.“

“Good night, Elrond!“

When Elrond was gone Gandalf rose and went to the window. “Stay away, you she-devil. You will not bring your cold hand of death here. I won’t allow it!” With that he stormed out of the hall unaware that the very one he had cursed had been watching him.

She-devil? That’s a new name and it’s certainly not one I like! He seems to know of my kind, I best be careful.

“There you are!”

Leara turned to Silistra, who looked rather annoyed. Silistra was not just her guardian; she was also an arch Angel. She dealt with cases that ended in tragedy and aided those affected by it! She wore a long white dress with a flowing white cape behind her.

“What are you doing here, Leara? You’re not meant to be here until tomorrow!”

“I know Sil and I’m sorry. But Elrond has seen me and what every disguise I wear tomorrow, he will see though it just as easily as he saw though my invisibility” 

“Now calm down! Let me worry about the details, you worry about your mission.”

“What is my mission Sil? And what has it got to do with Elrond?”

“One step at a time, little wings. I have just come back form the council with the information you need for your task. You’re going to need both your skills for this one!”

“Why?”

“Sit down. Your mission is this. Make sure that nothing goes wrong for Arwen and Aragorn’s wedding”.

“That’s it? That’s not exactly difficult!”

“That’s what you think, little wing, but I can assure you it’s not.”

“Who am I meant to be looking out for Silistra? It isn’t the Wizard fellow is it?”

“Wizard? What Wizard?”

“The one who is a friend to Elrond. He’s called Mithrandir. He just called me a She-devil.”

“Oh dear Lord! Not Gandalf! You stay away from him, Leara.  He’s going to be trouble! Now come, walk with me!”

Leara followed Silistra thought the winding corridors of Rivendell, now dark with only candlelight to light their way. Few Elves were about at this time of night and used the darkness of the shadows for their private conversations. Shadows loomed from every corner and the sound of cracking fire was heard as the two angels slid silently in the dark halls and into the luminous gardens.

There, under the pale moonlight stood Arwen and Aragorn. Arwen was whispering sweet words in Aragorn’s ear, cause him to smile and laugh and he brushed her hair away form her face.

“I don’t understand Sil, they are happy, they don’t need…”

“Your making conclusions again Leara! Aragorn is your mission, but he’s not the only one who will need your aid! So do Arwen’s bothers Elrohir and Elladan”

“But why do they need me?”

“That’s your mission Little wing, to find out and help them. All I can tell you is to make sure they reach the wedding in one piece”

“And how am I meant to do that? I’m not an elf and I..”

“By the stars you are impatient! You are to go undercover…”

“But Sil…”

“Now let me finish. You are to go undercover as Aragorn’s cousin, daughter of Arthelion, brother of Arathorn”

“But Elrond…”

“Wait for it! You came here to do in your invisibility cloak, wanting to find your cousin and talk to him when you accidently walked into Elrond’s meeting. Somehow, you don’t know why, he saw you! You’re to apologize to him in front of everyone so people will stop questioning his mind.”

“Must I face him, Silistra? Can’t I avoid him?”

“No. Your mission is in direct link to him. This is his family you’re aiding, and you may not be able to do it without him!”

“Silistra… for the first time in my immortal life…I am afraid!”

“Of what, child?”

“Everything about this mission!”

 

The sun shone brightly on Rivendell as people from all corners of Middle Earth started to arrive. The finest of Elronds men were patrolling the lands and escorting carriages to the gates, with no sight of orcs. White ribbons and colourful banners blew about on the gently breezes that came North from the Misty Mountains.   Inside, bright streamers dangled form the ceiling as flower petals decorated the floor. Tables were stunningly decorated with exotic foods form all races.

“Welcome to Rivendell, friends of old. You all gathered here to witness the union of my daughter Arwen and Aragorn, King of Gondor!” Elrond called into his great hall when the visitors arrived. He was standing at the top of the stairs with the happy couple on his right and Gandalf and Glorfindel to his left. The faces below him were a mixture of men, elves, hobbits, and dwarves. He looked at the faces of Frodo, Sam, Legolas and Gimli and smiled. With friends like these the wedding will truly be blessed.

A latecomer arrived through the doors and Elrond looked to see who it was. Suddenly, his blood stopped running and colour left his face. It was the woman, there was no mistake. She was wearing the same clothes but now her long raven hair was tied at the base of her neck in a lose ponytail.  She moved with a swan-like grace weaving in and out of the guests, in a manner suggesting she was looking for someone.  His dark grey eyes followed her like a hawk watching it’s pray.

“Elrond? What is the matter?” asked Gandalf, looking at the Elf Lord with great concern. 

“I think, Mithrandir, I have finally lost leave of my senses!”

“Father?” Arwen slid her hand in to her father’s and smiled “Father why do you stare so hard at the woman in blue?”

Elrond quickly faced his daughter “You see her? The woman in blue with the dark hair?”

“Why… yes. Quite clearly!”

At this, Elrond descended the stairs with great speed and quickly greeted all those he past, as he tried to reach the woman who was now standing in the archway of the dining room. Now he was standing close behind her taking in every detail his sharp eyes could take in. She was tall, almost as tall as he was, pale and thin, and yet she gave the air of hidden strength and beauty that he had never before seen in another. Not wishing to frighten her, as he believed he did so the other day, he waited for her to make the first move.

A moment passed as the woman turned and faced him. She was clearly shocked but stood her ground and stared almost in fear of him. He raised his hand and then gave the same inviting gesture he had given her yesterday.

“Lady, please know that I mean you know harm and what ever I did yesterday that caused your great distress I apology. Know, that you are welcome in my home, and are welcome to stay as long as you desire”

The words rang in Leara’s ears like a stand of beautiful music, as she felt herself drawn to the storm of kindness in the elf’s eyes. With slight hesitation she placed her hand in Elrond and smiled at him.

“Thank you, my Lord, for your kind hospitality and please know that my leaving yesterday was not of your doing.”

“What were you doing here yesterday? Did you forget what day the celebration was to be held, it is on the invitation. Do you have it? ”

“I know what day the celebrations are, my Lord and I do not have an invitation.”

“Then why…?”

“I can explain everything but first I must find the person I seek. Aragorn.”

“He is with my daughter at the top of the stair, I will escort you!”

Before Leara could protest, Elrond was guiding her across the floor towards the couple. She felt the eyes of all the guests staring at her, heard the whispering of their minds as they followed her up the stairs to face her mission. Elrond let go of her hand and she quickly bowed to Arwen and Aragorn before giving them a brilliant smile.

“Lord and Lady, may the stars that blessed your meeting shine over you forever and bring you countless joy.”

Both bowed in return and Arwen took Leara’s hands smiling sweetly. “Your kind words have touched me, but I see your beauty has entrapped my father. Have you two met before?”

Leara’s throat went suddenly dry and she quickly went through her mind to remember what Silistra had said.

“We met yesterday daughter, though we were not properly introduced” said Elrond, noticing her sudden freeze.

“Maybe now we can all have the pleasure of knowing who you are?”

“My name is Leara, daughter of Arthelion, brother of Arathorn.” Everything went quiet and all eyes stared hard at Leara, judging her and her words.

“If your words are true, you and Aragorn are cousins, Lady Leara. But do you have proof that you are a descendent of the noble heritage?” asked Glorfindel.

Leara smiled as she produced a slip of paper and handed it to Glorfindel. It was a birth certificate with her name and both Arthelion and Arathorn names on it as witnesses to her birth. Glorfindel looked at it and then handed it to Elrond who studied it with great interest. He then looked at her and then at Aragorn.

“Aragorn? Are you not going to meet your cousin with a proper greeting?”

Aragorn smiled and embraced Leara who returned the embrace yet could not return its warmth, as guilt pinched her heart upon feeling the sudden kindness Aragorn rapped her in. Suddenly she was in the embrace of Arwen and being squeezed tightly.

“My heart fills with joy for my husband and you, Lady Leara. Please, consider being my maid of honor!” 

Leara’s eyes widened with amazement, never before had she been treated like this by people other than her kind. They usually feared her and spoke about her with serious voices, so the sudden change was quite overwhelming as she fell back three steps only to have Gandalf grab her.

“It would not do, for an Angel, to fall before she gives an answer to her soon-to-be cousin” his voice dripped in sarcasm, yet the hardness of his words reached Leara’s ears and she quickly pulled herself out of Gandalf grasp and faced Arwen.

“Forgive me my moment of weakness, for I was overcome with joy. I would gladly be your maid!”

Another breath stealing hug, given from Arwen and a small kiss on the cheek from her cousin, made Leara relax and began to think her mission wasn’t all that bad. 

 

Elronds eyes never left Leara. Leara? What a strange name. It had no meaning in Elvish and he knew enough about men’s names to know that it had no meaning either. Gandalf seemed to know her of that he was certain.

“Mithrandir? Do you know Lady Leara?”

“As I have said, old friend, not personally but I know of her kind!”

“Her kind? What is she then Mithrandir? Tell me!”

“A race that has walked this earth even before the elves, and like many old things faded into legend. Yet she is still well known, though I have never heard of her by the name of Leara”

“What other name does she have?”

“I cannot say yet, my old friend. I want to be sure before I accuse the child of anything. For what I accuse her of being is a creature most evil. Can you do me one favour my friend? Just to keep my old nerves at calm?”

“What?”

“Never, ever be left alone in her company, for I fear it is you she has come for not Aragorn!”

 

To be continued…