I own nothing but the OCs characters. Thank you for reading!

"Legolas, Ithilwen, get them up" said calmly Aragorn after cleaning his sword. She stared at him in wonder. Had he not realised what had just happened? What they had lost? Legolas went close to Pippin and she went by Merry and hugged him. Everyone was in shock. Gandalf had been giving them hope throughout their journey and with his wise guidance everyone believed that they would eventually succeed in their mission. But what about now?

"Give them a moment, for pity's sake" interrupted Boromir and his voice broke down.

"By nightfall, these hills, will be swarming with orcs" replied Aragorn. "We must reach the woods of Lothlorien." She gave him a fierce stare. He noticed that and with a move of his head he made her realise that this was their only way. Merry was still crying on her chest and she slowly helped him stand up. They would manage to go through this. Gandalf's death should not be in vain.

After they had gathered together they started heading towards the woods of Lothlorien. Their pace was fast and the hobbits sometimes were left behind. But they could not afford to spare any time to grieve the death of their beloved friend. Ithilwen was trying to remember the first time she met him. She was at Imladris with Arwen reading a book with poems. "Here is sight rarely to be seen. The light of the Evenstar and the daughter of the Moon" said a voice. They lifted their heads and saw a kind old man, dressed in grey. "Gandalf the Grey" said Arwen in wonderment. "Olórin the Maia" added Ithilwen with the same tone in her voice. He sat between them and started reciting to them unknown songs about the love stories of their ancestors. She smiled. This distant memory filled her heart with nostalgia for her blissful past and pain for her bitter present. She had to shield her heart and mind. Her birthplace would awake even more painful memories to her.

Aragorn was running ahead of them. They had reached river Nimrodel. The hobbits looked with despair at Aragorn, hoping that he would pity them and would allow them to rest for a while. But Aragorn insisted that they should carry on. Lothlorien was not far away. And indeed. After an hour they had reached the borders of the elvish kingdom.

When they entered into the safety of the forest they lowered their pace. The forest had a soothing aura. They were all mesmerized under the tall mallorn trees. Ithilwen's heart was racing. Among the trunks of these trees she had been born and raised. She had ran, laughed, danced, learnt how to fight. This forest was part of her, a part that she was trying for the last thirty years to ignore, for it could only bring her bitter feelings.

"Stay close young hobbits" exclaimed Gimli. "They say a great sorceress lives in this woods. At least here is a dwarf that she will not ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of hawk and the ears of a fox." Gimli turned his head and saw two elvish arrows pointing at him. Legolas and Ithilwen has already prepared their bows and were ready to attack. Aragorn unreluctantly raised his hands, to show that they were not foes.

"A dwarf breathes so loud, that we could have shot him in the dark" stated an elf, the captain of the group, which had encircled them.

"Haldir?" asked Ithilwen in disbelief. She looked beyond the captain and exclaimed "Rúmil! Orophin!" as she recognised two more elves. The captain looked at her. His eyes sparked. He did not expect to see her after so long and under these circumstances. She smiled at him and lowered her bow. Haldir made a move and the rest of the elves imitated her.

"Ithilwen!" he said and his voice revealed his surprise. "You have changed!" She had indeed changed. She had lost her elvish shine, her eyes were not glowing the way they used to, her hair were braided and she had bangs, a quite odd hairstyle choice for an elf, and with these ranger clothes, she was beyond recognition. She was not anymore the blissful elf who had been dancing under the stars, praising the beauty of the moon. She was now more like a mortal. He pitied her. "Follow us" he ordered.

"Let us hope that your acquaintances will prove worthy, lassie" Gimli said and walked next to Ithilwen. She hoped that too.

Without further discussion Haldir led them to a flet where they could get some rest. They introduced themselves and they stood behind as Aragorn was trying to explain to Haldir their difficult situation. Their discussion was tensed and, although they were talking in elvish, everyone in the fellowship started falling into despair concerning the future of their quest. Both Legolas and Ithilwen were able to understand their discussion and they were exchanging looks of uncertainty. Haldir did not seem convinced by Aragorn's arguments and pleas. Ithilwen was sitting among the hobbits. Aragorn gave her a desperate look. She knew what exactly he needed from her.

"What's wrong?" asked Sam.

"There is nothing to worry my dear Sam", she replied as she stood up. "Rest, because we might have to walk again soon." She approached Aragorn. Her presence interrupted their discussion. Haldir looked at her expressionlessly and continued talking in elvish.

"The evil you bring with you, cannot pass through our forest. It will bring grave danger to our kingdom."

"Let us come with you" said Aragorn again. "The road is very dangerous. Please, we need your protection."

"Haldir, for the sake of your friendship with my brother, please let us come with you" said Ithilwen. Aragorn smiled. He knew that Ithilwen had this strong argument that would surely convince Haldir. "It is true that Lorien will be in danger, but if our mission fails, the West will fall into darkness. And the deaths of Gandalf and Tírnel will be in vain. Please Haldir. Rúmil, Orophin" she said to Haldir's brothers who stood behind him "we need your protection, please."

Haldir looked at her in disbelief. How could he trust her, since she had changed so much from the last time he saw her. 'But the last time I saw her, she was lying on the ground, heavily wounded, and her brother was dead a few meters away. Could this really have changed her so much?' he thought. He looked at his brothers. Rumil went close to him and whispered something to his ear and then smiled compassionately. Haldir sighed, stared at Aragorn and Ithilwen and then went towards the rest of the fellowship.

"You will follow me" he stated.