Women in the Fellowship

Eglaneth

I want to spend more time with Elemmire. She is such a dear friend to me, like a sister and one of the only ones besides her and Aragorn that will have a friendly conversation with me and not be completely unhinged. Gandalf and Elrond usually were here for guidance. I do not need to ask anyone where she is, I just follow her energy. As I enter Rivendell once more, I accidentally run through Lord Elrond.

"Eglaneth!" He exclaims. "Wait!" I stop. "I just wanted to tell you that you are invited to a council I am going to hold when Frodo wakes up. I nod, and make my way to El.

When I find her, she is in Frodo's room.

"You seem to be growing fond of the little one." I Muse. Elemmire didn't know I was there, and she let out a yelp of surprise. In response to my comment, she smiles and says "Yes."

I smile at the beginnings of love. I have known Elemmire ever since she was a small girl. I still remember how we met.

(Flashback)

A little girl walks in the forest with a woman. The woman is none other that Celebrian, Lord Elrond's wife. She was, besides lord Elrond, the only one who knew about me at the time. The little girl looks so much like her mother, only with an innocence and happiness that only a child would have. She must have seen me, because see runs toward me- and proceeds to run through me. I was so embarrassed and panicked. What would I tell the child? But she has already figured out the truth about me.

"You're a ghost, aren't you? Are you a nice ghost?" She asks.

"Yes, sweetheart, she is a nice ghost." Says a voice behind us. I turn around to find Celebrian, and give her a grateful smile.

The girl looks at me again. "I'm Elemmire, but my sister calls me El. I'm five!" She exclaims.

I sink to my knees, looking her in the eyes. "I'm Eglaneth. Im twenty, and you are a beautiful, you know that?" I meant it.

She smiles, and it melts my heart. "Can you do magic?" Little El asks.

I show her something I used to enjoy doing in my life. I summon a small, green, wispy light. It turns into a butterfly and lands in her hair. She did what I used to do. Elemmire put her tiny finger by the butterfly and it crawls onto her finger. She looks at it in astonishment.

"El!" Celebrian calls.

"Where do you live?" Asks El.

"Here, in the forest."

"Can I come visit?"

"If your mother lets you."

"Okay!" Says five year old Elemmire as she speeds of to her mother.

She visited almost every day. Since then as she grew and matured, our friendship got stronger. She is now like a sister to me.

I love that she can finally find someone, though she may not know the full extent of it yet. El seems to be thinking of love too, and asks me;

"Were you ever in love?"

I hesitate before answering. This was the one part of my life that I never shared with El. But I trust her with everything, so why not this?

"Yes. Shortly before I died. He was forced to carry on and find someone else after my death, whilst his heart yearned for me. He waits for me now, but cannot find me in death."

"Who?" She presses impatiently.

I take a deep breath. "Isildur."

I let my words sink in, as she realizes that I did not die to save my friend, but my love.

"He is far from small." El tells me, moving the subject from me to Frodo. "Just these few days, he has been through so much. Had that been most others, they would be long gone."

I smile in agreement.

"Do you think everyone else is alright, El?" I ask childishly.

"They'll be fine, Eglaneth. They have Estel." El assures me, using Aragorn's Elvish name. "Wait, Eglaneth, there they are!" My best friend exclaims, pointing to five figures approaching Rivendell. We both take off at the same time, bounding towards the Gates. We meet Aragorn there and lock Aragorn in an embrace.

"Are any of you injured?" I ask. It appears they don't have any serious injuries, but I'm not too sure. They all shake their heads. El starts leading the three hobbits to their room, which they share.

"Is Mister Frodo okay?" Asks a slightly pudgy hobbit." My name is Samwise Gamgee, but you can just call me Sam."

"I am Eglaneth. Frodo will be okay, but he is in a deep sleep and it may be days before he wakes up." All the hobbits nod in comprehension. Aragorn isn't with us because he already went to his room.

One of the hobbits comes up to me. "I'm Peregrin Took, but everybody calls me Pippin."

And the other, who looks alot like him says ; "I'm Meriadoc Brandybuck, but everyone calls me Merry."

"This is your room." Says Elemmire. "Call me or Eglaneth if you need anything, okay? My name is Elemmire."

And with that, Elemmire goes back to Frodo, and I follow.