Chapter Six

1 Week Later
8 Tuilë (April 5th) 534 TA

Galadriel had heard the quiet questions from Alatariël about a 'mystery woman' she had seen in the forest and smiled. After a week of making sure Alatariël couldn't find much of anything about Farathir, it was now time to drop a few bread crumbs and see where it led Alatariël next.

"Oh her?" Galadriel said casually. "She has been our 'guest' for the last several seasons. Her name is Farathir, why do you ask Alatariël?"

"Oh, uh...you see I saw her and I was worried she didn't belong here or there..." Alatariël stammered. Trying to recover her composure, Alatariël tried a different angle for the conversation. "Do you know her?"

"Know her? More than most, but she is a very private person. She does not talk of her past and her privacy is just that...hers. You seem very curious about Farathir, are you sure you only glimpsed her from afar?" Galadriel asked as she fought to hide the smile from coming out as it was obvious to anyone that Alatariël had clearly done more than just 'see' Farathir from a distance. Galadriel had already consulted her Mirror and received a hint about those two, a possible change in the future if things were handled carefully and without interference. Of course that still left King Thranduil who would not be at all thrilled at the thought of his daughter and one of Sauron's most feared Generals as anything other than enemies.

"I uh, wanted to ask a question...about Farathir that is." Alatariël asked as she tried to hide her nervousness from Lady Galadriel, "Is Farathir a skilled swordsman? When I saw her for a few seconds she had a sword and was doing some kind of dancing drill or something."

"Was she now? Indeed. Well, what I do know is that Farathir does have some skill with the sword..." Galadriel paused as a sealed message was handed to her, on it was the name; Alatariël, daughter of Thranduil. "I believe this is for you." Galadriel said as she handed the letter to Alatariël.

Alatariël took the message and opened it, inside it read; Alatariël, Tonight. Dinner. Us. -- Farathir

"Alatariël, is everything okay?" Galadriel asked with feigned concern, having already recognized Buffy's handwriting.

"Oh uh...yes. It was nothing, just a reminder of things I need to take care of tonight...today actually! Well I must be going. Thank you for speaking with me Lady Galadriel. Bye!" Alatariël ran back to her quarters and started giving her attendants orders to prepare dinner for an important guest this evening when her older brother walked in and saw the commotion.

"Alatariël, what's going on? Why is everyone running around?"

"I'm...uh, having a...friend...stop by for dinner tonight. I want everything set up and perfect before...they, get here!" Alatariël said trying to avoid using words like she to her brother who was a worrywart and a pest when it came to the idea of his little sister seeing someone or anyone for that matter. Not that she was seeing Farathir, but she'd made a promise to Farathir and she wasn't going to break it.

"Uh, huh, try again little Sis. What's going on?"

"Nothing. Look, I lost a bet and so I owe my guest dinner is all." Alatariël explained as she left out a few details.

"Right. Well I want to meet your mystery-man guest before you sit down with him. Understood?"

"Look here Legolas Greenleaf! You may be my older brother, but you're not ada!"

"And you should thank every one of the Valar for that too! Look, I'll just meet him so that I can tell dad I know who you had dinner with and that he was okay."

"Alright." Alatariël agreed and turned her back as she started picking out a dress for this evening...

Evening (Same Day)
8 Tuilë (April 5th) 534 TA

Legolas waited impatiently for Alatariël's dinner guest to arrive when he saw the Watchwarden, Haldir and someone a little shorter walking next to him. The two spoke briefly and then Legolas saw Haldir nod before walking away. As the second person came closer Legolas saw he was wearing dark clothes and his hair was pulled back into a long ponytail that ran to his waist when Legolas saw who it was. Jumping in front of her, Legolas drew one of his daggers and pointed at her. "Stop right there! You'll go no farther or closer to my sister, Heleg Naur!"

Buffy wasn't amused when the Elf she saw jumped in front of her and pointed a dagger at her. "Look here," Buffy started but she was cut off.

"Farathir! You've made it!" Alatariël called out as she saw Farathir standing by Legolas. As she quickly walked up, Alatariël's good mood vanished when she saw Legolas holding a long dagger towards Farathir. "LEGOLAS GREENLEAF!" Alatariël yelled. "You will stop humiliating me by pointing that dagger at my guest and you will go away!" Alatariël ordered, her voice holding not an inch of room for compromise.

Legolas saw his sister wasn't going to back down and making a fight of it in front of her wouldn't do anyone any good, although it might amuse this creature of Sauron's, one of his Bone Queens. "Do you know who this is Alatariël?" Legolas asked as he unhappily sheathed the dagger.

"Yes, her name is Farathir and she is my guest, as well as a guest here of Lady Galadriel's. Anything else isn't important right now."

Without another word Legolas stomped away, seeking out Haldir who had been talking to Heleg Naur and to get some answers. As he turned the corner Legolas almost ran into Haldir who stood leaning against the wall. "Why are you allowing that creature here? I thought she and the other ilk like her were dead, killed off during the end of the War!"

"By creature I take it you've met Farathir. Any questions you have can wait as I don't have the answers, but I know someone who does..." Haldir said and was going to enjoy the show when Legolas confronted Galadriel on this idea of hers.

Galadriel heard the knocking on her chamber door and walked over, opening the door to see an amused looking Haldir and one very upset Legolas Greenleaf, King Thranduil's eldest son and older brother to one Alatariël Greenleaf. "Yes? What is it? It is late."

"I believe you know what the problem is, my Lady. One dinner date between Farathir and Alatariël..." Haldir left off, knowing that Galadriel could take it from there.

"I see, come in then."

Legolas waited before saying anything foolish, angry he was and for a good reason, but yelling and carrying on with the ruler of the land you are visiting is stupid. "I thought the Bone Queens had been executed, so what is Heleg Naur doing in Lorien...Lady Galadriel."

"No one ever said that they had been executed, merely that judgment had been passed on them. Do you kill an animal that is wounded and helpless before you Legolas Greenleaf?"

"If it is dying or mad and will kill others. Than yes, out of mercy for it and the other creatures of the forest."

Galadriel nodded, "Well said. But could you have coldly murdered them as they were chained up?"

"No." Legolas admitted, "I am not a murderer."

"No you're not and neither were they." Galadriel said and saw the look of utter shock on Legolas's face, "Rather they were forced down that path by forces they could not control." Galadriel gathered her thoughts as she considered what and how much to tell Legolas for he may pass that knowledge onto his father, Thranduil. "I never said that they were innocent babes." Galadriel amended when she saw the shocked look on Legolas's face. "Come with me, there is something you must see." Galadriel said as she pulled a cloak on and strode out of the room towards her private sanctum. "Know that few are the people who have been in my sanctum Legolas, fewer still have gazed upon my Mirror."

"So then why have you brought me and what does this have to do with Alatariël and Heleg Naur?" Legolas asked impatiently.

"Your sister is important because she is the unstable element that can change things for the better and she is not having dinner with Heleg Naur, Sauron's General and his Bone Queen, she is instead having dinner with a young woman who I am trying to heal and her name is Farathir Guruthos."

"NO! That is Sauron's dog-servant. We all know she and her fellow General would do anything he commanded!" Legolas said angrily "And I will not allow her to be near my sister!"

"You will do absolutely nothing of the sort!" Galadriel commanded and Nenya flared to life on her finger freezing Legolas where he stood. "We stand on a cusp of possibilities this night Legolas Greenleaf! On one hand there is the very strong possibility of Farathir returning to Sauron still filled with anger and hatred of the Elves and then there is the other channel of fate. One where Farathir resists Sauron's Call because of events that have changed her, caused her to remember her past and not be ruled by it or those who caused her pain. Which one would you choose for her and Bronwe?" With a mental command Galadriel released the spell's hold on Legolas.

Legolas stood still, he'd felt the spell holding him disappear but didn't move as the thought over what Galadriel had said to him. "What does Alatariël have to do with all this?" Legolas asked finally through clenched teeth.

Galadriel let go of the breath she had been holding, "Much. With her influence in Farathir's life both she and later on Bronwe will no longer see Elves as 'the enemy' they have known that we are. Creatures that are no better than Sauron..."

Frowning, "What do you mean? Why would anyone see us as no better than Sauron? The only ones who would see us that way are the twisted servants of the Enemy, Sauron."

Galadriel shook her head, sadness in her eyes, "If only that was true Legolas. Some people do not trust us because they do not understand us, others fear us because we are strange and then there are those who like Bronwe and Farathir who have been hunted by us..." The Queen of Lothlorien ruthlessly cut off Legolas's attempt to interrupt her, "You will be silent and listen, or I will make you be silent." As the Prince recoiled from her unexpected reaction, she continued, "Long ago, just after the time of the forging of the Great Rings two people came to us in search for sanctuary from Sauron, instead of greeting them we hunted them like animals. We created our own worst enemy, more so than Sauron, for unlike he, they 'knew' that Elves were no better than him and the only way to survive was to destroy us." Galadriel saw the doubt on Legolas's face, "You doubt me and that is understandable. Come," Galadriel said, guiding Legolas to the mirror.

"What will I see?" Legolas asked softly as he looked at his reflection in the pool of water.

"The past of what was, what is and what may be..." Galadriel said enigmatically as she poured the Water in the Mirror. "Look past the surface Legolas, look past your mirrored reflection and see what was and is no more..."

Legolas stopped trying to force his eyes past the mirrored surface of the water, as soon as he did that Legolas saw two women, The Bone Queens! was the first thing that popped into his mind, but even as it did Legolas could see that they somehow looked 'different' or at least Heleg Naur did. The image changed as it showed the two women making their way through a rough forest. Neither woman wore armour, but instead wore mis-matched clothes that looked well worn and both of them carried swords. But no armour or retainers traveled with them, they were alone. Then Legolas saw them standing and talking to a group of Elves and leaned forward, trying to hear what was being said.

"We know who you are! Begone! The Kingdom of Eregion wants nothing to do with the likes of you, servants of Sauron!!" The Elf spat the last out as if the very name tasted foul.

"But that's not us!" Legolas saw the brunette girl protest even as his mind added her name, Amlug Ruth - Dragon's Rage, protest. "We didn't have anything to do with it by choice!"

"No matter!" Came a voice from the crowd. "I am Celebrimbor and lord of Eregion," came a voice from a tall Elf with Silver hair and a muscular physique. "You helped Sauron fool us when he was disguised as Annatar and forge the One Ring. Begone, your kind is not welcome here!"

"We didn't know! Why can't you believe us? All we want is someplace safe to stay, we don't even belong in this crazy world!!" Heleg Naur yelled angrily.

A cold look came over Celebrimbor, "You have 12 hours to get yourself off Elven lands or you will be hunted down like the dogs you are!"

Legolas blinked and the image changed again, this time he saw Heleg and Amlug talking quietly, "She's important to me Faith. I don't want to lose her anymore than I do you..."

"I know B and I'll help you get her out of there..."

Then Legolas saw something he knew was impossible, Barad-Dûr was rebuilt and surrounding it were thousands and thousands of Orcs... then he saw an enormous, lidless, red Eye before something jerked him backwards breaking the connection and ending the vision...

"Wha-what was that?" Legolas asked shakily.

"You have glimpsed the future, which is a dangerous thing. But you also saw a section of the past, knowing now what you have learned, what will be your decision now? Will you return to your sister destroying something before it is yet even born or will you heed what you have seen tonight and use patience instead and wait, keeping what you know now to yourself?"

Legolas hesitated for the second time tonight, torn between what he had seen and been told by Galadriel and that of his need to run back to protect his little sister from the corrupting influence of one like Heleg Naur. "I will wait for now and watch Heleg like a hawk. At the first sign of anything treacherous from her I do not trust I will kill her." Legolas said before walking out.

End Chapter Six

And Continued in Chapter Seven