Chapter 9

"Welcome to Lothlorien, Elenwen," said Celeborn, looking at Elaine thoughtfully.

"Why do you call me that?" asked Elaine. "Its not my name. My name is Elaine."

"To the elves, your name is Elenwen Tristaniel," Galadriel told her. "Elenwen is elvish for star maiden, which is waht you are. You are also the daughter of Tristan, which is what Tristaniel means."

Elaine nodded, though still unsure. "What do you want with me?" she asked. She was rather unsure bout being there. She didn't know exactly how trustworthy the elves were, although Aragorn seemed quite willing to trust them.

"We have never seen anyone like you before," Galadriel told her. "You are immortal, though not an elf or one of the Valar. Although you are clearly close to the Valar, being one of Varda's stars."

Varda's stars. There was that term again. And as for immortal, well, that wasn't entirely true. Yet how much could she confide in these elves? She decided that if Aragorn trusted them, she could too. Not that she had too much choice, as Galadriel ould read her mind.

"I am a star, although I do not know too much about Varda, unless that's just what she is known as to you. And as for immortal, not entirely. If the heart of a star is cut out, whoever eats it will live longer."

She then proceded to tell them about her own mother, Yvaine, and how she had been hunted by witches and the princes and her father Tristan. Galadriel and Celeborn seemed fascinated and slightly shocked about the heart-eating part.

"...After my father and mother were crowned king and queen of Stormhold, they ruled for many long years. My brothers and sister chose to stay there with their children, but I'd never married. I chose to go with them to the sky by using the Babylon candle. Besides, I was more star than human, whereas my siblings were more like my father," she finished. "And then about two months ago, I somehow got knocked from the sky and stuck here. And no one but me seems to know what a Babylon candle is, so I have no way to get home."

Galadriel and Celeborn both seemed quite concerned. They spoke softly to each other for a while, then Galadriel turned to her and spoke.

"Come with me."

Frodo watched as Galadriel emerged from where she, Celeborn, and Elaine had been speaking. Elaine was still with her. The star and elf made their way towards more stairs before descending. Curious, he followed. Upon descending after them, he saw Gladriel lift a pitcher as she stood behind an alter with a bowl in it. He had thought that he had been well hidden, but apparently he was wrong, for Galadriel looked straight at him before speaking.

"Will you look into the mirror of Galadriel?"

Frodo had followed them. Elaine couldn't help but wonder why. Then again, the hobbits were incredibly curious.

"What will I see?" asked the ring-bearer, stepping forward, cautious.

"Even the wisest cannot tell," Galadriel told him. "The mirror can show things that are, things that have been, and even some things... that have not yet come to pass."

Elaine raised an eyebrow as she looked at Galadriel. The mirror could show the future. That meant it could show her fate. It could show if she would ever escape from Middle Earth.

Galadriel seemed to have read her mind, but Frodo was already looking. Galadriel's expression told her that she would also have a chance to see.

Then something happened. Elaine's eyes widened as the ring seemed to be pulled towards the mirror. Frodo jerked back in shock.

"I know what it is you have seen, for it is also in my mind," Galadriel said softly to him. "This is what will come to be if you should fail."

Elaine shuddered. She hadn't seen it, yet she was certain it was something aweful.

Frodo held out his hand with the ring. "If you ask it of me, I will give you the ring."

"I do not deny that my heart has long desired this," Galadriel murmured, reaching towards it. "In the place of the dark lord you shall have a queen!" Gladariel's voice changed, becoming dark as she spoke. Elaine leaped back in terror. "Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Treacherous as the sea! All shall love me and despair!" With the last words, she returned to normal, gasping, and clearly slightly shaken. "I have passed the test," she said softly. "I will diminish and go into the west, and remain Galadriel."

"I cannot do this alone," Frodo said quietly. Elaine felt sorry for him. It must be difficult for him to ccarry the Ring of Power.

"You are a Ring-bearer, Frodo. To bear a Ring of Power is to be alone." She held out her hand with a ring on her finger. "This is Nenya, the Ring of Adamant," she told him. "And I am its keeper. This task was appointed to you. And if you do not find a way, no one will." Elaine found herself believing her entirely.

"Then I know what I must do. It's just… I'm afraid to do it." Frodo looked slightly afraid.

Galadriel bent down to meet him at eye level.

"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future," she told him. Frodo nodded before leaving. After a moment, Galadriel turned to face Elaine. "Will you look into the mirror?" Galadriel asked her.

Elaine hesitated. What would she see? True, the future was unknown, not yet fully shaped. Frodo had seen what would happen if he failed. It had clearly been terrifying. But what would she herself see? Galadriel continued to stare at her. Elaine nodded.

"I will look."