A/N: Ohayo minna! It's me again, the crazy, eccentric, amateur of a writer, ChangeofHeartTwins! See? I updated in time! But only 2 chapters! Sorry! I've been really lazy for three straight months, so yeah... Anyways, there have been mountains of work to get through! Who cares! Enjoy the revised version!

Disclaimer: I do not LoTR --. If I did, I'd be riiiiiiiiiiich...

Chapter 1: In the Mallorn Forest

'Hey, Candy, why don't we…whoops, sorry, didn't notice ya!'

20 year old Arinya Handelson fought off her jealousy as the two friends who had bumped into her strolled past, laughing and giggling like regular people should. Friends. The word had rarely entered her context for about what, her whole life?

Never had a single friend entered her life. Earlier, bullies dominated it, taunting her for being shy and well, rich, but that eventually faded out, much to Arinya's relief. But even then, she found that she could not reach out to others, and touch upon their life as a friend. There were many people she could have socialized with, but somehow, she couldn't.

And then it continued through elementary school, to high school, and to university. So she took solace in the only thing she decidedly had an interest in: on a sudden, wild impulse, archery.

Somehow, the two hobbies filled her colourless life with splotches of brightness, filling the crevasse where her heart once was.

It also spirited away the trappings of home life. Her overbearing mother and father, richie riches who were used to ordering everything around, told her to this and that, and the word 'choice' was all but nonexistent.

Arinya smiled bitterly. Her younger brother had been the smart one, leaving the moment he turned eighteen. He got the bold genes, unafraid to stand up to anyone. When Arinya had asked him why he always went out of the way to follow his own path and not the one their parents laid out for them, he laughed at her and said, 'Sis, you're so uptight about their rules you could be your own bowstring!'

She had once wondered if he were right or wrong about that, but now, she had no second doubts. Even though it wasn't much, she still had a resolve, and now, she resolved to…

'Go to your secret sanctuary?' her mind suggested. Arinya's head slowly looked around and to her surprise, it was empty. It was a chance too good to pass up, and besides, she hadn't gotten around to visit that place in a long, long time.

One last look assured her that no one could see her route, and she took off, neatly rounding three tight corners, an amazed old lady, a few bushes, and into warm embrace of the golden-green trees, erasing all the clouds of today, replacing them a warm, burgeoning joy.

Arinya's backpack bounced and jounced on her back as she ran to what she knew was her favourite spot in all this forest: a small, sunlit meadow with a huge tree smack in the center.

A large grin spread across her face as she shrugged off her shoulder straps, and sat like a rock at the base of the protective tree. Luckily for her, nothing had changed since she left it about a month ago. Actually, nothing had changed to the trees since she found them when she was but ten. She was glad though. It meant that nothing could change the fact that they were there for her in her neediest times.

Much like friends, she mused, staring off into space. In any case, the forest experience was…different today.

The feeling was warm and accepting, filling her with unexplainable happiness. Something had filled her entire being with beauty and buoyance, something that wanted her to stand up and dance, which by the way was something she as horrible at.

She sighed disappointedly, literally standing up and slinging her books and bags over her shoulder, starting to walk out at the same time. Even if she didn't find out what the wonderfully cheering feeling, or its cause was, the lovely trees were still a sight.

Arinya looked up, smiling ruefully at the everything within her line of sight, shame, this feeling sounded rather hopeful…

It took a few moments to realize that she wasn't heading out of the forest, but deeper and deeper, right into the heart, the only part of which that Arinya never explored.

The trees were slightly wilder, the leaves darker, and the place slightly more oppresive.

The sunlight had disappeared.

And for the first time since she entered the forest, she felt a tangible, touchable fear.

Arinya tried to move her legs, and tell them, 'No! This is the wrong direction! I have to turn back! Turn back you stupid legs!'

Staring ahead didn't help her jellied nerves one bit. The eerie forest only turned darker and darker and darker…

But steeling them was all she could do, and steel them she did, letting her own feet guide her on a seemingly neverending path. And anyways, if it were her lot to die at the end of this, so be it. Her life was drifting away, one piece at a time already.

But just as she finished the glooming thoughts, a small, but hopeful ray of sunlight broke through the canopy, warming her spirits ever so slightly. Even if it were predestined, she would NOT die today, not in her forest.

And soon, there were more beams of the glimmering sun. Birds reappeared, as if solely to entertain her bored, leg-sored state.

Suddenly, her feet came to a halt, and little by little, she started to regain use of them again, walking round and round the shady little meadow, round and round the strange birdbath, savouring the sweetness of control again.

On one of her rounds, her head sounded something that was vaguely like recognition. I know this place…

Only when the picturesque little meadow fit into her memory world did her legs come to a shuddering stop.

It was not just any meadow.

Her mouth dropped in sheer amazement. It…..it…..no way……no possible way…

Arinya pounded up to the birdbath in the centre, and confirmed her guess.

It was Galadriel's mirror.

The exact same. Everything, every little detail was there. And when she looked around again, she noticed a small arm-high waterfall, and a tall, elvin glass pitcher on the lip of its pool.

Cautiosly, she peered into the glassy water mirror. She had reason. Frodo had seen terrible scenes of destruction that had nearly overwhelmed him, and Arinya had no wish to witness the same. Closer and closer her head fell to the water, until her nose almost touched the mysteriously glimmering surface.

Come…..it beckoned to her, willing her to lose herself in its depths.

Come…..it told her the very same promise the trees had vowed.

Come…..it instructed her to lower her face but an inch more.

And Arinya had no reason not to oblige.

A/N: Review, and read on! Criticism is nice, but flames have to be justified!