Author: Jenn - tolkanonms@yahoo.com

Rating: For this chapter, G for "Good grief!" or "Gag me!" or just plain "Gack!" The tale as a whole is rated R (which could mean restricted or ridiculous or reprehensible or rot-gut, depending on your locale and perspective).

Disclaimer: See the Prologue.

Feedback: Comments welcome -- constructive if possible, but nasty if you must.

Archiving: Edhellond. Anyone else: permission required, so I'll know where to send updates.

Author's Note: Sorryyyyy it's been sooooo long since I updated, but u know all that weerd weather we've been having? Welllll, see, turns out when Gandalf the Grey came back as Gandalf the White, he, like, FORGOT a bunch of his spells! I know 'em all, of course, so I haf to help him remember and give him lessons 'n stuff. Anyhoo, me 'n him have been out at dawn on Boston Common casting spells every day 4, like, weeks now, 'n he still can't get it right sometimes. Ya know, he's an old guy, so I guess he's kinda slow. But he's rilly rilly rilly powerful, so when he goofs, it's, like, mega "Oh s***!" So if u got snow in April, well, don't blame me! Talk to Gandalf!

Welcome back, my friends! Are you ready for more tales of Menethôlwen and the Elves and all the rest of the folk who dwell in Middle-earth, or dwelt there once? Might still dwell there, some of them, come to think of it. Haven't really gone and had a look lately, myself. No reason to, really. I mean, what with --

What? You say you are ready for the story now? Well good, it's about time! You have a sweet bit of something for me in exchange, of course?

Ah, very nice. Thank you.

Now when last we left the tale, Menethôlwen was awakening in Imladris in the year 2954 of the Third Age, some years before the adventures of Frodo and Strider and the others take place. Now don't worry -- we'll come back, or go forward, to those silly folks soon enough. But first, you must learn more of the history, or at least the more recent past, of Menethôlwen of the Ninnir. So we shall rejoin Guin as she awakens in her bed in the House of Healing of Imladris.

Well, what is there to say, really? She woke up. And Elrond and Gandalf and Elladan and Elrohir (the twins and the ferrets) were all there staring at her, although she didn't see the ferrets at first because they were sitting quietly in a corner. It's what happened next that was interesting, so we'll just skip right along to the good part.

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"Whoa! That was, like, the weirdest dream I have ever had," Guin mumbled. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, her mouth gaping wide in a yawn.

And remaining that way for a good bit longer after the yawn had passed. For she had opened her eyes to find several handsome men with pointy ears and a bearded man whose ears were hidden by wild, white hair and a crooked, pointy hat, all of them staring at her.

She blinked. Once. Twice. Rubbed her eyes again.

"Oh. My. God."

Elrond smiled gently and said, "My go van in [Greetings], Menethôlwen."

Guin stared at him. "Huh?"

Elrond repeated himself, but it was clear that comprehension still eluded her.

Suddenly, Gandalf rapped his knuckles on his hat and chuckled sheepishly.

"Fool of an Istari! You've forgotten to lift the spell that binds her memory!"

He lifted his staff and muttered words none but the ferrets could understand. A glowing light moved from the crystal at the tip of his staff to surround the young woman in the bed. Guin's eyes glazed over and rolled up into her head as she fell into a trance. The ferrets scampered out of the corner and leapt onto the bed to dance across the silk coverlet, chittering a curious rodent counterpoint to Gandalf's incantations.

Gradually, the light faded, and with its departure, a new awareness arose within the young woman. She looked into Gandalf's eyes for a long moment before reaching her hands out to him, crying, "Ada! [Daddy!]"

Gandalf moved to accept her embrace, feeling a bit awkward as she was no longer the wee babe he had sent into the future, but a girl on the threshold of womanhood and thus a good deal more endowed than when he had last seen her. Still, he pushed his discomfort aside to welcome the last Ninni back to the world she had loved so dearly and sacrificed so much to defend.

Elrond cleared his throat and stepped forward. As Gandalf released the young woman, she looked up into the grey eyes of her former lover and saw clearly the fondness he still felt for her, as well as the grief she knew she would find. She held out one hand to him.

"Alas, ye hour smelleth need [my ancient beloved], I see that I have returned too late to save your beloved Celebrían. Forgive me that I was not able to grow more quickly and thus spare you the agony of separation from the one to whom your feta [spirit] will be forever bound!" And her eyes filled with tears.

Elrond found he could say nothing in the face of such overwhelming compassion. He merely smiled sadly and bent forward to embrace her, stroking her hair for a moment before straightening once more.

"My own loss and pain are as nothing when I consider all that you have endured over the Ages with no thought for your own suffering. It is enough that you have returned to us, teething gerkin [my little heart]. The Darkness stirs once more, and it will be good to have you standing again on the side of all that is good and light in Arda."

Elladan and Elrohir, unable to restrain their ardor any longer, threw themselves into the young woman's arms, each nuzzling one of her ears, begging for her undivided attention as they pawed eagerly at her breasts and hair.

She smiled as the ferrets clambered over her, and then she began to laugh. The entire room was suddenly made brighter by the ringing sounds of her joy. Elves all over Imladris paused in their daily chores as the silvery notes tumbled forth like crystalline chimes in the wind, and the elder Eldar smiled knowingly at each other.

Menethôlwen had returned.

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Well, my friends, as you can see, our Menethôlwen is indeed a most beloved Elf-friend. But as Elrond has seen, dark times approach, and now that she has awakened, she must quickly resume her place as a defender of the peoples of Middle-earth. To ready herself for what lies ahead, she must reclaim her powers and reassemble her companions.

Yes, her powers and companions. You do not know about these things? Ah, well then, I shall have to take a bit of time to tell you of them. The powers will make themselves known as needed. But the companions you must meet now, for they are quite essential to my story in ways you cannot yet foresee. You know Elladan and Elrohir, the ferrets, already. But there are more. Many more. And I shall introduce you to some of them before we end tonight's tale.

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Erestor set aside his quill and stretched. The seneschal of Imladris been hard at work translating an ancient Enyan text into Cinderon all morning. It was high time, he thought, for a walk in the garden to refresh himself before lunch.

Striding across the library, he opened the door.

And found himself face-to-whisker with a Bengal tiger.

They regarded each other for several long moments, and then the beast opened his mouth, baring his ivory teeth at the Elf.

"Drat that woman and her companions!" Erestor muttered, turning his head and fanning the air in front of him. "As if I don't have enough to deal with here, I must now arrange for the care of her menagerie once again."

The tiger finished his yawn and blinked, then purred at the Elf.

"Now don't you go trying that 'innocent little kitten' act on me. It may work with my beloved Lindir, but I am cold as the wind off Caradhras. Your furry wiles will not move me!"

And with a tiny sniff, he gathered his robes about him, stepped around the large feline and made his way down the hall.

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Earlier that same morning, Gandalf and Menethôlwen had left for a walk in the meadows that were hidden in the craggy mountains that cradled Imladris. Accompanied by Elladan and Elrohir, the ferrets, the Maia and the Ninni chatted about the old days, and the older days, and even the days before those, and also the days since, with Gandalf relating all that had happened while Menethôlwen was safely hidden away in Iowa. For time had passed much more rapidly in the Middle-earth of the present, which is now the past, than in the Midwest of the future, which is now more or less the present, or something like that.

Pondering the passage of time and all that had come to pass in that time, they fell silent, each lost in thoughts of past, present and future. Then Menethôlwen remembered something that had been on her mind earlier that day.

"Gandalf, you have not spoken of your faithful companion of old, Shadowfax. There was a time when you were inseparable. Such a majestic, intelligent, noble creature he was, untamed despite his love for you. In all his long life, he answered to none but those very few whom he found equal to his magnificent presence. When last I walked these lands as an Elf, he had chosen you, and you, him. Where is he now?"

A cloud crossed Gandalf's face, and he paused in his steps to draw a pipe from his pocket and fuss with it, obviously stalling. Menethôlwen waited patiently. At last, the wizard spoke, his voice stiff and his words more halting than usual.

"That was… a long time ago, my dear. We have since gone our separate ways. We remain friends, of course, each of us free to wander the lands, yet ever ready to aid one another if the need should arise."

He paused, reliving some moment long passed. Menethôlwen again waited patiently until, sure enough, the wizard's gaze returned to the present and he smiled at the beauty before him.

"Oh, fear not for your own bond with him! Although he will answer to no other being on this side of the Great Sea, he will obey you without hesitation. If you should need the Lord of the Mearas, just whistle. You remember how to whistle, don't you? Just put your lips together and blow! Go on, try it! He has not laid eyes on you since you were a babe and will be overjoyed to see you again, I am certain."

Hesitating but a moment, she turned and whistled to the skies. And another moment later, Shadowfax appeared out of the trees, galloping across the green meadow, a shimmering vision of white as the sun shone on his forelock and reflected off his milky withers. Stopping a few paces in front of the Ninni, he bowed his head to her, then trotted to her side and laid down so she might braid his mane as had been her wont of old.

Menethôlwen happily indulged the marvelous creature's request, and she, Gandalf and the horse sat contentedly in the sun while she wove into the long, creamy silk intricate patterns not seen since the First Age. When she was finished, they all rose to their feet (two, two and four, respectively) and the two-footed bade the four-footed with the forelock farewell for now, foreseeing they would have further dealings in the future.

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Upon returning to the House of Elrond, Menethôlwen went in search of her other companions who, sensing her embodied presence once again, would have awakened from their magical sleep by now and begun making their way back to Imladris. For only Elladan and Elrohir, the ferrets, had accompanied her when Gandalf sent her to the future. The others had scattered, retreating to caves and aeries and burrows and other such places to sleep until summoned once more to her side.

A melodious voice rose from across the lawn, and her face lit up as she recognized the singer. She lifted her skirts and ran lightly across the grass, through an opening in the hedge and found herself once more in the splendid gardens where, long ago, she had spent many happy days (and nights) with the Lord of Imladris.

Lindir, the beautiful and beloved spouse of Erestor, looked up from his seat on a wooden bench and smiled his greeting to her without breaking the flow of his ballad. At his feet, the Bengal tiger lay snoozing. Perched on the branch of a large oak tree, a mighty eagle preened its feathers and chortled in its throat, forming an avian accompaniment to the minstrel's tune, while a monkey daintily nibbled on figs offered to him by the dark-haired Elf who sat listening to Lindir.

When the song ended, Lindir leapt up and threw his arms around Menethôlwen.

"I had heard you were back, but only now that I see you can my heart be certain! Welcome home, need mail lawn [my friend]!"

Menethôlwen hugged the young Elf with equal enthusiasm. He had always had a way with her animal companions, soothing the tiger and calming the eagle on those rare occasions when she left Imladris without them. And it was he who had finally persuaded Erestor to allow the tiger to roam inside the buildings, something for which she remained most grateful.

Breaking their joyful embrace, Lindir blushed and turned to the darker Elf, who had risen to his feet and was waiting to be noticed.

"Oh dear! I have forgotten my manners once again! What will Erestor say when he learns of this? Ah me! Menethôlwen, this is my friend, Melpomaen. Melpomaen, this is Menethôlwen, Elf-friend of old and the wisest, prettiest, sweetest person I have ever known. Except for Erestor, of course!"

The Elf and the Ninni smiled at the flustered minstrel and nodded to each other politely, but before they could speak, another Elf joined them.

"Ah, there you are! I have been searching for you!"

"Well then," she replied, feigning a haughtiness she did not feel, "the fabled powers of perception of the twice-born must be exaggerated, for I have been within the borders of Imladris since I awoke in the House of Healing."

Glorfindel grinned at her and shook his head.

"Ever the spitfire, eh? Well, never mind. I have found you, and now I shall beg, if I must, to have you walk with me but a little ways."

Menethôlwen pretended to consider his request, then held out her hand to be escorted. She turned to Lindir and Melpomaen and smiled.

"Farewell for now, friend of old and friend newly made. One does not lightly deny the request of a Balrog slayer, and so I must away with him as he has asked."

Offering her his arm, Glorfindel led her on a lazy, winding course through the trees that eventually brought them to the stables.

"I have something to show you, leering mire [lovely one]!"

Menethôlwen cast her old lover a warning look and said in a voice that could not quite disguise her mirth, "I have seen all you might have to show me many times, mall thin nail [golden one], unless you have been re-embodied with aught other than what you had before?"

Glorfindel chuckled wickedly. "Nay, my lady, I am all the Elf I used to be -- no more and no less. Still, I do have something to show you."

He led her to a stall near the back of the stable, then stepped aside, sweeping his hand toward the entrance.

Menethôlwen took a step forward to find a powerful, young stallion of pure white staring at her. She gasped with amazement as her heart leapt into her throat.

"It cannot be!"

"Nay, it is not," Glorfindel confirmed. "Your beloved mare, Gill-Hiss [Starmist], is long dead. But this stallion is her many-greats grandson, and as you see, retains the perfection of your old mount."

Slowly, she reached a hand toward the horse, murmuring wordless sounds to reassure him. The horse tossed his head once, then regarded her with a deep gaze. Softly, she called to him.

"Come to me, rock [horse]!"

The horse stepped forward and nuzzled her hand. She laughed, looking up to see her joy mirrored in Glorfindel's grinning face.

"Truly, mail lawn [friend], he is a very fine creature! I thank you for seeing that the line of my companion of old did not die with my return to the Waters of Arda!"

Glorfindel's smile turned bashful, and he scuffed at the straw with the toe of one boot.

"Well, a horse is a horse is a horse, of course. Still, there has been something special about this line since first you began to breed it. It would have been a shame to let the bloodline die out."

Menethôlwen nodded, stroking the stallion's mane. She spoke no reply, but thought to herself, "Aye, 'twas for this purpose that I bred the line. Through my visions, I knew I would have need of such a creature as this one in times to come."

"And I am here to serve you always, Mistress."

Startled, she looked into the horse's eyes.

And found there the light she had secretly hoped to see. She glanced over at the Elf-Lord, who seemed to have heard nothing.

"Neigh. He does not hear my voice. Only to you who worked your magics on the bloodline of my foremothers and forefathers may I speak. For it is to you that I owe my fine forelocks. Thus, I am, and shall forever remain, your four-footed servant."

Glorfindel's voice interrupted their silent exchange.

"By what name will you call this epitome of equine excellence?"

"Mysterréd."

Glorfindel paused, his brows knitted for a moment. "Mysterréd? 'Tis a name I have not heard before. From what language does it derive?"

Her eyes grew distant, her voice strange and deep.

"'Tis from a language of the far future, a mysterious tongue in which words and moving pictures shall be sent over great distances, to be seen and heard by thousands as they look into magical boxes that shall be found in every home."

The ancient Elf, who had long ago grown accustomed to her visions and the sometimes strange answers they brought forth from her lovely mouth, simply smiled and nodded. Gently, he took her arm.

"Come, leering mire [lovely one], let us return to the Last Homey's House for wine and song and chaste companionship as is the custom of the Eldar. I will show you the way."

Menethôlwen snapped out of her trance and snapped at the Elf-Lord beside her.

"I founded Imladris -- I don't need your help finding my way, thank you!"

With a final glance at her newest animal companion, she left the stable and stormed up the path toward the Halls of Fire.

Glorfindel looked up at the stars and sighed, "It is as it ever was with her. Could you not have mellowed her spitfire personality this time?"

When the stars did not answer, he sighed again and hastened to catch up to the Ninni.

(To be continued…)

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Notes:
 

Hey, somebody just told me that they've already released the book for the third movie! Wheeee!!!! I can't wait to buy all three books. It's, like, a *trilogy*! An' they have, like, movie pix on the covers and and Elvish writing and maps inside. How kewl is that? And each book is, like, hundreds of pages long!!! That's a whole lot of reading, but it'll be worth it!

Ya know, PJ must have paid that Tokyen guy a lot of money to write such big books. 'Course, he'd have to write rilly long books to get all the incredible, amazing stuff that happens in the movies to fit in, wouldn't he? Now I just have to see if I can keep myself from reading the third book before the movie comes out next year, cuz I don't want to spoil the surpriz!

Thanks to all the nice people who reviewed the first chapters. You are the BESTEST!!!! I put some more Elvish in here 4 u 2 enjoy, since u liked it so much b4!

Alia, I hope u r not reading this at nit again so ya don't wake up ur hubby. <snicker>

Soledad, Casey, Finch and Erunyauve -- you guys are, like my HEROES! Everybody shud read ur stuff at Edhellond and here on ff.net cuz it's great!!! I get all my best ideas from reading ur stories. (And the rest of it, I just make up! Tee-hee!)

Lasse-Lante, I hope ur butt's not 2 sore! I luv ur Glorfy story on ff.net -- "Adventurers Together" -- so I put more Glorfy in just 4 u. Hope u like it! (BTW, Brittany Spears is, like, sooooooo last year, ya know? U must b like, rilly old, like 25 or something, if u don't know that!)

And Worried Girl, don't worry!!!! Leggy will be coming in the next chapter. I can't b-leeeeeeeev how long it's taken me to get to him. But ya gotta have plot and character development and stuff, too, ya know, and that takes up a lot of time. But he'll be here reeeel soon -- I pwomise!!!! Pinkie swears!