Hello again, and welcome back… *rubs hands together and laughs evilly* I've been waiting for you… Hah! Well, I've returned, since I had two kindly reviewers. *glares at everyone else* For those of you who didn't review… and I know you're out there so don't deny it… please do so for this one. It's hard to come up with good material if it's not inspired by the people who read…
harrylover101 and RE-Zero: Thank you! I really needed those. Hope this is soon enough for you!
And now on to the next installment! Another point of view, farther down the road. Also drastically more AU – I've fudged the times of certain events to make this work better. And no, I still don't own them – the characters, background, or the quotes I stol- err, borrowed, yes, that's the word, borrowed- from The Fellowship of the Ring. Drat! Maybe someday…
In Lothlórien
Haldir had taken the Hobbits to Cerin Amroth, overlooking Caras Galadhron, leaving Legolas, Boromir, Gimli and I in the camp. I left them a short while ago, needing time.
Gandalf's death lies heavy on my heart, and a shadow darkens every step I take. The loss of Mithrandir is hard news for all of Arda, but even more so for me. He was my guide, my friend, more than all else. He will be sorely missed.
And not just by myself. The Galadhrim are singing of him, in memory. The songs cause me to want to rip my heart out. I cannot bear this grief! "You do not help my grief!" I want to say to the Elves, but I am in far too much emotional pain to tell them so. I could not be so heartless. They are grieving, too, in their own way.
I wander among the Mallorn trees, their golden leaves, even in winter, soothing my fears and worries, but not my grief.
My feet stop of their own volition, and I find myself partway up the hill of Cerin Amroth, a small golden bloom of elanor in my hand. Why have I stopped here?
I can hear a voice, in my head. "Who is there?" she asks me.
Arwen. She is a star against the night sky, a light in my darkness. She is fairer to me than all other things, my hope against all the evils of the world.
I smile as I relive the memory of our meeting here, 38 years ago. It was summer then, and I had been weary from my journeys. The Lady Galadriel had clothed me as an elf-prince, for her own reasons, though I now suspected the truth. She had known, or at least guessed, my love of Arwen, and she had helped me to seal her granddaughter's fate, as well as that of all Middle-Earth.
I beheld Arwen as she had stood, those years ago. The light of Aman was in her face, her eyes twinkling merrily. Her laughter had been the chiming of soft bells, her voice an angelic chorus.
I remembered little more of that day than a happiness that filled my entire being. Arwen and I had spoken our troths to one another that day. We were promised to each other. Arwen had chosen to forsake her immortality for our love.
That same feeling came over me now, soothing my heart and filling it with love. "Thank you," I whispered softly. "Arwen vanimelda, namarië!"
I took a deep breath and returned to the waking world. I would now have the strength to go on, even with the loss of Gandalf weighing on my heart.
A smile crossed my face as Frodo came down the hill toward me. He seemed hesitant to approach me; unwilling to disturb me, perhaps. My smile reassured him.
"Here is the heart of Elvendom on earth," I told him, "and here my heart dwells ever, unless there be a light beyond the dark roads that we still must tread, you and I. Come with me!"
I took Frodo by the hand and led him back to the Company.
Today I would lead the Company in their meeting with Daeradar and Daernaneth, my adopted grandparents. It was sure to be a long day.
But I knew that I would truly sleep for the first night since I had left the House of Elrond, the only home I had ever known. This place, too, was a refuge for me.
Here, I knew I would find peace.
I'm not sure if this will be continued or not... it may depend upon how many reviews I get!
Please review! It's not hard and it only takes a little bit of your time. You don't even have to leave your name, honest! But it means so much to the author… especially this one. Please? Lots and lots of cyber-cookies if you do!
