The Gathering of the Elves

[Galuwen]

Arianna Fersheir held her bow as her sparkling green eyes looked down at the stranger. Her hair was thick, half brown and black. She was not as pale as most elves, but yet still not as dark as some men she had seen in the taverns. Her tunic was dark brown, old and tattered.

"He will not attack until I command it," Arianna said, "and I will not command it unless you deserve it. What is your name, and in what Realm do you reside?"

"Nimthoron Greywings from Rivendell. I serve Mirkwood this night."

"You lie! You could be that dark elf they talk about."

"The only dark magic around here is you conjuring spirt images." Nim replied.

"What are you talking about elf?"

"I'd like to tell you, but there is a heavy kitty crushing me right now so it's a little hard to breathe."

"That 'kitty' as you so put it is a cougar. And the only one who I call a friend. I am the only thing stopping him from killing you. So tell me, what spirit?" Arianna replied, never releasing her grip of the bow.

"Before I was knocked down," Nim recounted. "There was an image of a spirit."

"I saw nothing," Anianna replied as she waved her hand. Given the command as the cougar raised to it's feet. "With all that Imladris' healing house cures, I am sure that they would have something for hallucinations. Now since you are no treat, or at least for now, I have no need for you," Arianna said as she placed her bow and arrow back into her quiver.

Nim lifted herself up, it was then that she realized she was lying on her quiver. "You do not give trust easily, do you?" It would give be nothing more then great pleasure to be left alone as well. "But I saw what I saw. I would not lie. "

[Galuwen]

"By the Valar..."

"The Valar have shown no mercy to me!"Arianna interrupted.

The wind began to pick up once more as laughter filled their ears.

"So sad," a dark female voice spoke - a voice that sent chills through the air.

Nim was starting to believe she might be hallucinating, for she now looked at what appeared to be Galuwen standing not more than five feet away.

There were some slight differences; a black strip of hair framed her face, as well as her fiery red eyes staring back at them.

She wore a long black skirt that looked to be ripped in half, revealing red elven lace. The lace seemed to be taking the place of the missing portion of the skirt. A crimson colored two-piece belt of silk around her waist formed a v shape in the front as it was fastened around the small of her back adorned with iridescent black pearls and beading. The sleeves being made of silk chiffon with faint chain stitch satin embroidery and beading and iridescent sequins as the material gathered close to her arm at the top and flowed out, covering the expanse of her arms and covering her hands as she moved. The embroidery pattern upon the sleeves is that of finely stitched black leaves adorning the fabric.

"So this is what the great elven warriors have become," She said as she looked at her hands. Examining every part, like a baby discovering them for the first time. "This shell puzzles me." Sighing, she looked out at the two she-elves and the cougar. "This is the part that's less fun. No screaming," She said as in one movement as if time stood still, she lifted her right hand as flames flew from her fingers creating a fire ball.

The fire ball looked to have been throw yet her arm never moved. It moved through the air toward Arianna. Before Arianna had time to reacted Mahki jumped high in front of her, blocking his friend from danger. Taking the flames head on. The cougar roared in pain as he fell to the ground, laying still at Arianna's feet. His left large paw was black and still smoking, his leg, red and black.

No amount of words in any tongue could describe what Arianna was feeling at that moment. This cougar that lay at her feet was the first of only two she considered her family. When she was wandering the streets of Rivendell, orphaned, afraid of people, and keeping to the shadows, Mahki showed her kindness and served as a protector. Now she felt as if she had failed him.

Eyes of anger and pain looked upon the dark elf. Grabbing her bow and an arrow she aimed it at her heart. "You die!" she screamed as she released it.

(Shirt design and description by Linwelos)

[Galuwen]

Hearing and seeing the release of the arrow, the dark Galuwen prepared herself for her next move. With split-second precision, she stepped out and caught the arrow in mid-air and looked at what she now held in the palm of her hand.

[Galuwen]

"Get out of my head!" She suddenly screamed, sending a shock wave of magic toward Linwelos, knocking her off her horse. "Always hiding behind your magic. So sad."
Linwelos lay upon the ground next to the hooves of Alasse's horse.

Convinced that her eyes where playing a cruel trick on her when she and Alasse had first arrived. After following the source of such a strong magic presence.

Linwelos felt that of gilt, almost betrayal. Even though she knew those where not the actions of her friend. She had been teaching Galuwen some magic, but nothing like she had witness and felt now. Her stomach was on fire, as her body ached with pain.

The half woods fiery stared at what appeared to be Galuwen. Her mind filled with thoughts. All though she is pure Alasse knew all accepts of darkness. But this seemed to baffled her. There was a story told to her by her elders. Of a dark elf so powerful that it could not be killed. Was the spirit of that evil trapped within the body of their lost friend?

"That is not Galuwen." Alasse whispered to Linwelos, who still lay stunned on the ground.

Linwelos looked up from the ground. Her body still recovering from having the wind knocked out of her. "Really. How could you tell," Linwelos replied her sarcastic tone was apparent.

"When will you learn. I can not be defeated. Even the great Elrond bows to my power." The dark elf replied. "So just hand over Middle Earth and we can all be friends. No? I thought as much. I was turned down before. But this time. This time I have her." She said as she pointed to her head. "You friend here has betrayed you. I know all about you. The gathering of the elves. Is that what you call yourself. That's funny."

She pulsed looking out at the elves, then back to Alasse and Linwelos. They could not speck. To angered, or perhaps under a spell, to say anything.

A smile that would send fear into the air appeared on her face. Showing more of her true self. "A great warrior once said to defeat an army you must kill their future leaders first."

Spreading her arms out in front of her, she looked as if she was waiting for a hug. Light flash as the group watch as Lily suddenly appeared in front of her. She was under the spell of that dark creature.

"No!", Linwelos, Nim, and Alasse screamed in unison. As Alasse and Nim with weapons at hand ran forward.

"Stop, or the baby dies." The dark elf said placing a hand upon Lily swollen belly.

Soon Nim and Alasse where flying back wards, experiencing the same fate as Linwelos.

"I like a good challenge," she said. "I will choose a champion from the gathering to face my warriors. If this champion wins. I will release her and leave this body where I found her. In a hole in the ground."

"And if we lose," Linwelos yelled as she stumbled to her feet.

A deep laughter filled the air. "I own Middle earth!"

"Why should we take this offer?" Arianna said still holding on to the lifeless cougar.

"You think you have a choice. How sweet of you. Alright you either take my offer or she and her unborn dies. I will send for your champion, that I chose, with in the day." She and Lily were gone just as fast as they appeared.

"How do I know you're not in league with that monster, " Arianna Fersheir screamed.

Linwelos stood over her, her mind still confused about the events that had just took place. "For the last time, if I was then why would she knock me down ? Please I can help your friend."

Nim and Alasse stayed in the background gathering the horses. Confutation still swimming in their minds. Both unsure about what to say, they stuck to the task at hand.

[Galuwen]

The White City gleamed under the sun of Middle Earth. Birds of white and blue filled the skies.
The air was crisp and cool, as if happiness was something that could be breathed in.
Thousands stood atop the highest tear in the spiraling city. They all all come to
witness the son of Minith Trith's wedding. Farmir's joy could be felt by all.
Wearing his finest royal blue Gondor dressings.
Looking at his friends, both men and elves who had come to share his joy.
Elianna and Legolas was standing closest to him. Aimer standing next to Lily who cradled
her new baby in her arms. While Lintels could not help but to laugh at the sight of Nonna crying.
His new bride by his side, dressed in elvish lace. Lifting her vail, reveled a pair
of unfamiliar eyes staring back at him. Eyes the color of blood. And then she laughed.
Her voice was as if evil itself could make a sound.
Looking deep within her flamed eyes, Famir saw Galuwen's face.
"Help me,kill me!"

"Galuwen!" Farmir screams as he sits up. Finding himself in his bed, just as the sun's light touched upon Mirkwood.
The silence of the early morning was broken by the sound of hoofs galluping with hast. Faramir, looking out below his window,
saw Linwelos, and someone he didn't recognize carying a wounded cougar towards the healing house. As Alasse and Nim ran up to stairs of the palace.
The throne room lay in shock."We have faced orcs and un-ki, wizards and warriors." Elianna said as she tried to take in the story of events that Nimthoron
described. "But this?"
"I believe I know what has taken Lily and Galuwen's mind," Alasse replied. The elders talk of an elf so consumed my magic. That it'S
mind became full of darkness.A danger to himself and others Eland Sent it's mind into mist. Not of body or spirit."
"How can we be for certain," Elianna asked.
Alasse replied, "We can not. For all we can do is face it's challenge, save Lily."
"Who will it choose to fight," Nim asked.
An empty throne was all Elinna had to brace herself as the sound of the doors
being flung violently open make her jump. She knew who it was without looking. But all
Alasse and Nim could do was look into the eyes of Eomer.
The light of touches danced across Shadow's face, as he stood Arms folded at his chest, still as a
statue. His face, emotionless. "You have taken this to a line I wish not to cross." He said
eyes focused on the wall ahead. He could feel her power flow over his skin, knowing
she was behind him. "I have done all that you have ask of me." Shadow turned to face her.
"I have taken a life, so that you may life once more. I have acted above my conscious. A task
I can no longer preform."
"Such a bold move,coming from you," she replied. "Do you remember when I found you? Drunk from ale. Laying upon
the forest ground. Mumbling about revenge against Elrond and the council. I took you in,gave you power. I gave you a
way and means to bring down the council. And you want to leave now? Now that we can Begin. Besides, what would
you wife say?"
A tear fell from Shadow's face.

[Galuwen]

Linwelos sat under the warm morning sun. Among the flowers in the gardens of the healing house. Her dirt stained dress fanned around a wooden bench.
She had been called one of the toughest warriors in battle. The most loyalest of friends. But as she sat there alone, it all changed.
Linwelos had just finished with Mahki, stabilizing the cougar. She was drained, both emotionally and physically. Watching Mirkwood, her birth home burn. The death of her best friend. It was as if her childhood had been ripped from her. And this thing that now is using Galuwen's body as it's own. Taking Lily. She could only keep busy for so long. Keeping her feelings at bay.
But as she sat there, her emotions assaulted her at once. Linwelos felt as if she could scream as loud as her voice would allow. And at the same time curl into a ball and remain silent unable to speak. She felt as if she had been physically beaten. Pain consumed her. In her subconscious a small part of her wondered why she was in this much pain. She had done nothing to warrant this attack on her body and mind.