Chapter 2

The next morning, Elrond invited the Fellowship to join him and his family for their morning meal. Elrond, Arwen, Elrohir, and Ellandan sat at one end of the table. However, each member at the table noticed the empty seat next to Arwen and became curious.

"My friend," Gandalf began, "are we not missing one of your daughters?" Elrond looked up and saw their confusion. He smiled at them before responding.

"Yes, it appears so, however this is a common occurrence with Ithil. She will be in the palace library, no doubt starting to write down everything she has read and heard during her travels." He took a bite of his food as he finished.

"But sir, surely she cannot remember everything she read and heard! That's impossible!" Merry burst out, unable to help himself. Arwen shook her head.

"It is not impossible, master hobbit. Ithil has a near- eidetic memory. This means that everything that she has read and been told she is able to remember exactly. It is quite a feat. If you wish for proof, you may join my father and me in visiting her."

"Your invitation is much appreciated, and I believe that most, if not all, of us shall accept your offer of your demonstration." Aragorn smiled softly at Arwen as he responded. She returned his smile, much to the displeasure of her father and the curiosity of the Fellowship.

The meal passed swiftly, and they soon were ready to pay Ithil a visit. They strolled through the corridors of the palace and came upon a pair of great doors. Arwen opened them, and each person who hadn't seen the library of Imaldris had their jaw drop in astonishment.

What they saw was a room so large you could barely see the ends. There were many shelves that reached the ceiling, and were full of books and scrolls, right up to the top. There were many elves carrying piles of reading materials, and they were dressed in the same white clothes. They saw one place a book in a specific place before moving on. Despite all the activity, it was nearly silent in the library.

"How did all of these end up here? Surely you were not given all of these records and writings." Legolas said incredulously. Elrond laughed softly and shook his head.

"Indeed not. This is the work of Ithil. She has spent millennia travelling to different cultures, cities, and lands gathering this information. We had a usual amount of information in the original library, which was of usual size. Once my daughter started bringing back information, we had to build this room. It took years, but this is the result.

"The people in white that you see are her followers. They seek to know as much as they can. They even have a name, the Knowledge Seekers. Ithil will send them out to various locations, and they will spend months there, learning a book by heart as they make copies. They bring the copies back, and they are added to this room."

An elleth came up to them. She was dressed in the white of the Knowledge Seekers, and had golden hair and the fair complexion of the elves. She smiled warmly at them. "My lord, lady, and friends. Is there anything I can help you find? Perhaps a history of Erebor for the dwarf? Or maybe an ancient spell book for the Grey Wizard?"

"You have dwarfish history in your eleven halls?" Gimli asked, surprised. The elleth smiled and laughed quietly, beckoning them to follow her as she led them to a section of the library.

"Of course, master dwarf. The Hodoer and her Seekers welcome any knowledge, regardless of where it comes from. This entire corner of the library is devoted to the dwarves. It is organized alphabetically by subject, and then by author." The Seeker smiled as they continued on to a large shelf.

"This, master wizard, is our magical history, spells, and magical theory. They are also some accounts of the Maiar. Those were very hard to find, however the Hodoer was able to recreate a copy for our library." Gandalf looked stunned, and ran his fingers over the spines of the books reverently.

"I may need to return once our journey is finished. I have missed the work of my people greatly. Unfortunately, we do not currently have the time for such indulgences, for we must plan ahead." At the wizard's words, the elleth looked saddened.

"Indeed, these are dark times. It is sad when people no longer are able to read. Reading is a way to learn many skills and ideas." Boromir scoffed at the Seeker's words. He picked up a tome with a green cover and held it up.

"You think this will help someone survive? If so, you are incredibly mislead. No, the way of survival is through the sword." The rest of the Fellowship winced at his words. They expected the elleth to get angry or offended, but she simply smiled.

"You think because I am female and do not wield a weapon that I am incapable of defending myself. Very well. Attempt to hit me, with or without your sword. Do not lessen the blow because I am female." Boromir looked stunned, but with a nod of encouragement from the Seeker, he complied.

He swung, and she was no longer there so he stumbled. She ducked low, and whipped her leg across the ground. Her foot caught his legs and he crashed to the floor with a muffled thud. Boromir looked up to see the elleth's fist inches from his throat, and her face no longer kind, but hard and focused. As the group watched, her face melted back into a warm smile and she grabbed his arm and hauled him to his feet.

"See? With practice I was able to learn this through scrolls that came from far east. The Hodoer does not wish her Seekers to be harmed in their pursuit of knowledge. Now," The woman said as she began walking, "let me lead you to her, for it is obvious she is the reason for your visit."

"Are you alright Boromir?" Legolas asked the Gondorian, putting a hand on his shoulder. Boromir irritably shrugged his hand off.

"Of course. It'll take more than a lady to injure me." He growled, stalking out of the library. Gandalf shook his head in disappointment.

"I did not believe his pride to be so easily injured. No matter, let us go see the Hodoer, I believe you will be enchanted by her as so many are." The wizard followed the girl as she went through a pair of doors to a side room.

The contrast was immediately noticeable. Where the library had been quiet and peaceful, this room was loud and chaotic. There were Knowledge Seekers running to and fro. There were desks where pages were being bound together, and where elves were writing slowly and meticulously. The elleth leading them showed them to a corner where they came upon two desks and three elves.

One was a male and the other two were female. The two dressed in white where writing on parchment. The third was a maid balanced on her hands as the female in white drew her position. The maid was speaking to the male, and he was writing down what she was saying exactly.

"Hello Ithil. I see you have the Knowledge Seekers busy." Elrond said as they came closer. Neither of the Seekers looked up from their work, but Ithil looked up briefly.

"Hello Ada, Arwen. Hello friends. I'll be with you in a moment." They waited until the female nodded her assent that she was finished, and Ithil stood on her feet again. She turned to the golden- haired elleth who led them there and said, "Ah Neilím. Good to see you. Thank you for leading them to me. Perhaps you can lead whoever wishes to read to topics they are interested in?"

The girl replied with, "Yes Hodoer, of course." She then turned and all but two of the Fellowship followed. The five remaining people who stood before her were Elrond, Arwen, Gandalf, Legolas, and Aragorn. Ithil let out a breath and smiled.

"A good morning to each of you. As you can see, we are up to our ears in work." The three who hadn't been in the library before looked thoroughly impressed. Aragorn then stepped forward.

"What is this place?" Ithil laughed slightly before gesturing to the rest of the room.

"Yes, this must seem strange. This is where the Hodoer does her work." she turned back to them. "Welcome to my workshop."