Caran smiled reassuringly at those of the Fellowship who cast her weary looks as they descended from the grand tree. No harm would come to any of them in this land and she hoped that they would soon realize this, as she knew Aragorn and Legolas already did. She smiled as Legolas departed last, inclining his head in a quick farewell, a small smile gracing his soft lips, before turning her gaze to the lord and lady of the land.

"You must forgive them for their distrust, we have traveled a long and hard road from Rivendell. They will soon come to embrace the great comforts of this land," she said softly, as the other elves around them left, leaving the three of them alone for the first time in many centuries.

"You once referred to this land as home, dear Princess," Celeborn said, with a quirk of his eyebrow.

"I have traveled an even longer road, Celeborn. I have almost forgotten the luxury of being able to call somewhere home," she paused, her voice faltering before she continued. "I do not think I will ever do so again. Perhaps Valinor someday." Caran had long since accepted that with the destruction of the ring of power death was the only thing that awaited her, and she no longer feared her fate. She merely hoped that her stay in the halls of Mandos would not be too long and she could rejoin her kin in the Gray Havens. That was her destiny now.

"You still look as youthful as the day on which I last set my eyes upon you, and yet your eyes tell another story. They carry the burden of a rough life, which one of your noble birth should never have had to travel, and they have lost hope; not for the destruction of the ring, but for yourself. You think that you shall perish as your father and mother both did," Galadriel said smoothly. She had not even had to dig into the depths of her mind to read her.

"Yes, I do believe it is my faith the perish with the ring, My father before me did, and before him his ancestors. It is a curse that my family seems to be tied to and with the ring I, too, shall perish, and the curse will be lifted." she confirmed, though she showed no fear. She would not hide from whatever fate the Valar had bestowed upon her. If her destiny was to die, then so be it. The one thing she knew for certain is that she would not pull anyone down with her if she could help it.

"I wish for you to look in my mirror, Caran," Galadriel told her as she stared deep into her eyes. It was not a demand, and Caran knew with certainty that should she refuse, Galadriel would not try to persuade her otherwise, but something inside of her told her she should not refuse, that peering into the mirror of Galadriel would serve as a guidance on her path into the unknown.
'I will look."

"Follow me," she spoke softly, both of the elleth nodding to Celeborn as they began their descent down the long staircase.

It was a longer walk to the fountain than Caran had remembered, but she did not mind. In fact, compared to what she had experienced lately, she found it peaceful and a much needed walk to ease her worried mind.

"The mirror will show you many things," Galadriel spoke as she poured water in the a rather large basin, but her mind trailed off. She knew what the mirror was, that needed no explanation. Galadriel had offered her the chance to look into it before. She was more curious what the mirror would show her and her thoughts focused on that. Would what she saw affect her destiny? Would she see her own death? She did not know, but as Galadriel set down the jug of water she knew she would soon have her answers.
"Look into the mirror when you are ready, but do not touch the water."

She took a deep breath and nodded, placing herself in front of the basin, gripping the sides lightly. The

moment she peered down she felt like she was being sucked into the mirror, though her feet were firmly planted on the ground. The water began to swirl, slowly at first, until gradually the pace quickened and she felt as if she were in the mirror itself. Her eyes were glued to the scene that appeared before her; flashes of a young elleth with vibrantly colored red hair running, and laughing with a much taller, and very elegant elf; her father, and just behind him an equally beautiful elleth with long blonde hair, her mother, during the relatively happy times of her childhood. That vision did not stay long, going next to a company of elves dressed for war, and at their head, Gil-galad. Another flash and she witnessed again the death of her father, followed shortly after by her mother battling and eventually succumbing to grief with the rejection of her grandfather, She desperately wanted to pull away, with the rush of emotions that came upon her at witnessing her beloved parents deaths again, but before she could, the vision changed again. This time, she saw her time in the wild, quickly leading to the counsel of Lord Elrond, and her trek with the Fellowship to Lothlorien, and that is where the visions started to change. Rather then herself, the mirror flashed to Legolas, sorrow lacing his eyes as he stood over her still body. She lay flat on a table, dressed in a beautiful blue dress, eyes closed as if in sleep, but she knew this was not the case with the steady flow of tears that fell down Legolas' soft cheeks. Behind him she saw what remained of the Fellowship and a few faces she did not know, all carrying similar looks of sorrow. So she would die then, but how? She did not have long to ponder this as the vision changed again and this time her heart wrenched at the scene before her. Legolas, practically collapsed over her dead body, tears flowing freely now as Aragorn, Gimli and a tall blond, a Rohir by the looks of him, struggled to pull a heart broken elf away from the one he had come to love dearly.

The very last scene she was shown in the mirror left her a sobbing mess. A giant army of men, a last stand at the gates of Baradur fighting against the very forces of Mordor itself. Orc after orc spilled out of the black gates throwing themselves at the men who were quickly being overcome. She saw Legolas, a look void of all emotion but sorrow on his face all but give up as Gimli was taken down trying to get to the elf, both were cut down. Everywhere she looked honorable men of Gondor and Rohan were being cut down, being overtaken by the never ending onslaught of orcs. Aragorn fell next, jumping to protect the young hobbits, ending the line of kings for good.

She viciously ripped herself from the mirror, falling to her knees, tears streaming down her face at witnessing the deaths of all of her friends on top of her own. In her grief she did not connect with the fact that this was not set in stone.

"Is this what we are leading ourselves to? Is there no hope to succeed?" She cried in desperation. What normal composure she had was long since gone. Her death was a fate that she could accept. But the deaths of those she had come to care greatly for was not.

"I know what you have seen, my dear. It is what is to come to pass if you deny love from entering your heart. You know what love I speak of, for I can feel it growing in your heart. I can feel it tormenting your very being. You fear to let the Prince of Mirkwood in, thinking it will lead to his death. On the contrary, if you do not open your heart to a love which will make you stronger, which will make you find hope once again, they will all perish. They will see your failed love first hand and by witnessing such they too, will begin to lose faith and then all hope will crumble." Galadriel paused for a moment as she came to kneel by Caran, placing a delicate hand upon her shoulder. "What you fail to realize in hiding from your love of the Prince, and keeping him at a distance is that he would die anyways. You are not keeping him safe from the woes of the heart in this. His feelings for you, while he may not have acted upon them, have already blossomed and will continue to do so. I urge you not to cast him away, for your love will bring much strength to yourself and to those around you."

"I must think on this," Caran said softly, unable to form much more of a coherent response.

"We will speak later, may peace find you tonight." Galadriel kissed her brow, before rising and disappearing into the night. She would not pester her to speak while her mind was so freshly troubled.

She did not know how long she sat on the forest floor, tears streaming down her face as her mind saw their deaths over and over again. In anguish she cried, knowing it was her own fears that would lead to such a thing, and while she would not pursue it herself, she vowed that she would not push the Prince of Mirkwood away if it came to such. In her heart she knew that she was already very fond of him, but she doubted he returned the sentiment as Galadriel had suggested. She would see where fate led her instead and pray that love did indeed make her stronger, because now all she wanted to do was push them all away in order to save them.

"Caran!" She heard a melodic voice yell her name a few hours later, followed by rushed foot steps, quickly pulling her from her agonizing thoughts.

"Caran, are you alright?" Legolas called softly as he gently lowered himself to the floor before her, gently cradling her face in his hands, his eyes widening at her tear stained face.

She could not answer for a long moment, could not even look into his eyes. For how could she truly face him after what she had seen? Could she let her heart love him like she had so desperately wanted to, but had previously not even let herself broach the topic in her fear of bringing everyone down with her.

"I looked into her mirror," she confessed in a soft voice. "I did not like what I saw, because of a decision I had made to myself, but I feel that I can change it, if it comes to pass. While she did not say it in plain words, Galadriel made me see how foolish I was being, She has a way of seeing through you and showing you the error of your ways."

He did not ask her what she had seen, not wanting to reanimate the hardship, and for that she was grateful. She could not have told him if she tried. Instead, he brought his arms around her, pulling her against his warm body, holding her tightly.

"You are strong, Caran. One of the strongest and bravest elves I have yet to encounter. If there is anyone who can overcome their fears, I truly believe it to be you," he told her earnestly.

She could not speak. She just did not know what to say. That he had so much confidence in her to overcome her shortcomings inspired her, and yet she doubted it. She was a mess of tears on the forest floor, sobbing into his arms, She did not seem very strong or brave.

Legolas must have sensed her train of thinking and began to speak comforting words once more. "Do not dwell on it right now, Whatever the mirror has shown you has gotten your emotions going wild and it is not likely that you are thinking rationally on it. Take time to calm yourself and then think on what you have seen and what she has told you."

She nodded, still at a loss for words as she settled in his arms, trying desperately to calm herself, breathing slowly and deeply as he soothingly rubbed her back.

Caran stayed in his arms late into the night trying not to think of what she has seen in the mirror. Not once did Legolas push her to reveal what she had seen, Instead, he stayed by her side, unmoving, her rock.