Women in the Fellowship

Elemmire

We were once again on top of the volcano. Frodo stared at the ring in his hand. Then he stared at me.

"Im sorry" he whispered, slipping it on. Eglaneth shrieked out no while I ran forward to try to wrench the ring off his hand. But Gollum made it before I did. He bit off my loves finger, holding the ring in his hand.

In a fit of rage, I unsheathed my cuffs, slicing away at Gollum before pushing him into the volcano. Frodo looks at me with disgust, clutching his hand in agony.

"Frodo" I whispered. He glared at me.

"DONT TALK TO ME!" he yelled.

And on top of Mount Doom, I threw myself into the volcano.

"El...."

The voice breaks through my haze of sleep. I groan.

"El, come on, today is the day we leave for Mordor"

That day has already come! Where has this month gone by! I groan but sit up nonetheless.

"Good morning, Eglaneth" I say, greeting my best friend. Then I remember something. She will not be returning with us, if this quest is complete. She will not see me married, not see me do anything. I dont plan on sailing to the Grey Havens anytime soon, and probably wont because of Frodo. That is is he will have me, of course.

"Morning, did you get any sleep at all, El?" she asks, laughing while she does. I know she doesnt sleep, or get cold. So, she doesnt know how it feels to be tired.

I answer her truthfully.

"Not much, but I'll be fine"

"Come on, they've prepared your bath already"

I give a sigh of relief. Mostly because I know this will be the only bath I will be having for a while. Disgusting but truthful.

My bath was short. I knew we had to get going soon, so I just scrubbed myself and washed my hair before getting out and toweling off. I found the outfit I had set out for today on my hammock. Strange, I didnt put it there.

I shook off the feeling, as I dressed. A black tunic and trousers, knee-length boots and a blue elvish made cloak. Underneath all of that was a chain of mail I received not to long ago as a gift.

I hear a loud knock on the door and look to see both father and Arwen. They each carry a wooden box.

"I dont want you to leave, but if you must Elemmire, I want you to be safe" father turns to the doorway, where Eglaneth now stands. He motions her in. Then he turns to me, handing me a box.

"This was your mothers, Im giving it to you now in hopes that it will serve you better than it did her. But I hope you will never have to use it"

The gift was a dagger, and and intricate dagger at that. But I couldnt admire it now. I slipped it into the slot in my belt, throwing my arms around my father and crying into his shoulder. I couldn't believe I was leaving him....but then the thought of Frodo came to my mind and I stopped the tears. Frodo was the reason I was doing this. Frodo, my one love. And probably my only love. Father pats my cheek and leaves.

I turn to Arwen, who by now in our lifetime looks nothing like me.

"I'm afraid that you may only see me when you sail away, sister" Arwen says sadly.

"What!" I cry. I wasnt going to go the Grey Havens, I was going to spend a lifetime with Frodo before going where ever Eglaneth will go when she passes on. I hope it is a good place.

"Father is sending me to the undying lands" Arwen states, tears sliding down her face. A tear falls down my face also.

She hands over her gift to me. Metal cuffs. A slide switch at the bottom lets blades draw. They remind me of the blades in my dream before horror slips upon me. They are the blades in my dream! I was going to kill myself on Mount Doom!

Wordlessly, Arwen slips the cuffs on my arm, pulling my sleeve back down. I draw and undraw them. Then I hug Arwen for what seems like only a second but in reality was probably a few minutes.

"I love you, sister" I say. She grins sadly.

"I love you too. Be safe and strong" she answers.

We stand in silence before I break it.

"Im not going to the Undying lands, Arwen, ever" I say. She looks at me, tears in her eyes.

"I know, Elemmire, Frodo means more to you then anyone else" she answers.

"Where do you think you go when you die?" I ask.

"I honestly have no idea, sister" Arwen replies.

We continue to talk until Eglaneth interrupts us, telling me we have to go. I swing my back onto my shoulders, sliding my sword into its sheath before grasping my bow and quiver of arrows.

"Let's do this" I say. Eglaneth gives Arwen a quick hug before leading me to where the rest of the Fellowship was standing. Frodo looks relieved when he sees me.

I thought you werent going to come, he mouthed.

I wouldnt leave you, I mouthed back.

He grinned. Father breaks it by approaching us. I step back, so I am next to Frodo. Memories of Eglaneth flood through my head as I stand at the gates. I remember meeting her, and talking with her. I was so young then, so innocent.

"The ring bearer is setting out on a quest to Mount Doom. On you who travel with him, no oath or bond is laid for you to go further than you will" he looks at me as he says that.

My sister stands behind him. I give her a nod farewell and she smiles. I leave Rivendell, a sense of doom falling upon me. I have a feeling I will not return to my homeland.