A bright light shone above me, making me snap my eyes shut and groan. "Suil Rana, im Faelwen a odulen an gi nestad." (Greetings Rana, I am Faelwen and I am here to heal you.)

I blinked then opened my eyes once more. A pretty elf stood beside me, her face empty of emotion. She had long dark blonde hair and deep blue eyes like set jewels. I did not reply for she had already moved away. "You are welcome to stay, although I think you will be well enough to return to your companions if you agree to rest. They have been worried about you, I could barely manage to keep the Halflings away."

I still did not answer, merely watched as she swept past in her green silk gown. "Le fael." (Thank you) She looked up and smiled at me.

"You are welcome." She answered simply then left, rather hurriedly if you asked me. I swung my legs out from the pallet, stretched then began to descend the stairs. Rather disorientated, I sniffed the air. Sausages and bacon. Sam's cooking!

I licked my lips then followed the smell of breakfast. When I entered the clearing I gave a hearty rumble in my chest, making the others look up. "She's awake!" Merry grinned then ran at me. I swept him up, tossing him into the air like a child then caught him with one hand.

"You'll have to do better if you wish to ground me." I told him as I set him down. He blinked up at me then threw his arms around my middle. I blinked in surprise but then folded my arms around him carefully, not wanting to crush him.

Pippin joined in with the hug, throwing himself against me. "How long have I been gone?"

"Only two days. You are a fast healer." Legolas told me as I came to join them. Frodo smiled up at me as I took the seat beside him.

"I'm glad you are well again." He told me.

"So am I, master Baggins." I told him then began to wolf down some food. "Sam, I think you may have to teach me how to cook like you do." The hobbit blushed a bright red.

"It's nothing really Rana, I'm sure you'll be a much better cook than I."

"Nonsense!" I declared heartily then continued to eat. I was in good spirits, so much so that the hobbits began to sing for us. Merry and Pippin led a tavern song, one of their own specialties, but when Pippin tripped up over his feet and stumbled, he fell into a nearby pond. Everyone froze.

I burst into laughter. I had not laughed for over five hundred years, it felt good. Everyone stared at me as I laughed and laughed, tears streaking down my face. When I was finished, Frodo was grinning from ear to ear.

"You laughed!"

"You're smiling!" I realised I was. I beamed at them.

"Pippin, you're soaked!" Pippin looked down at himself then the laughter began all over again, everyone joining in. My laugh was like a sweet trill, resonating sweetly like any other elf maiden's. It sounded slightly strange coming from my lips.

And so the challenge was set, everyone was telling jokes and funny stories in an attempt to make me laugh again, which happened once in a while. Once everyone was out of breath I lay back and gazed at the stars.

"Your hair is so soft, Rana, it's like silk." Pippin told me as some of it flicked over onto his bed space.

"I do have some good qualities." I yawned then turned over. "Not many, but enough."

88

I shot bolt upright. Everything was silent. I glanced around then saw Galadriel, glowing softly in the dark. She beckoned to me then walked away, leaving me with no choice. I found I could not disobey, I had to follow her.

I stepped quietly through the camp then followed her down onto a lower level where her mirror lay, a beautiful pool of stone and water. "Come." She murmured, standing before it. "Come and look."

"I know what this is," I told her softly. "I hear many come away mad, screaming in pain and fear at what they see in the reflection of your mirror."

"Are you so weak?" She challenged me boldly, making my anger flare and my stubbornness propel me forwards. I latched my eyes onto hers before looking down. Nothing stirred for a moment until finally, the smooth glassy surface rippled.

I saw a woman, beautiful beyond all description, an elf of the last age. She was fair skinned and ripe chestnut hair, full pale lips and soft green eyes. "Nana." (Mother) I whispered, feeling a lump rise in my throat. She was smiling and laughing, her arm woven through another elf's, his smile just as bright as hers.

He was tall and broad, with long golden hair and stormy grey eyes. I could somehow tell that this was the elf my mother had intended to marry, they looked so in love. The scene shifted and I growled sharply, snarling. My mother was screaming, an orc climbing on top of her and tearing her soft silk skirts apart. She stabbed at him with her small herb knife but he merely tossed it aside.

I watched as he raped her until it finally ended. I then saw her crying before the elf, his eyes staring at her slightly rounded stomach as she pleaded with him. Silently he stood and left her alone, walking away from her without even looking back.

The scene then changed and I saw her holding me, a dagger in her hand. I was hideous, my skin was wrinkled and scabby, mottled with the rough tones of each race. My nose was large and warty, my mouth twisted to reveal the large teeth already grown.

The dagger lifted up. The baby twitched and opened her eyes, revealing a beautiful shade of bright golden yellow. I opened my mouth and I heard the song. My first song. There were no words, just quiet sounds that eased from my lips like a nightingale.

The dagger dropped to the ground. I then saw myself, fighting alongside the fellowship in Moria. Then we were somewhere else, among trees and a stone structure. The Uruk-Hai surrounded us as we fought our way forwards.

Suddenly I heard myself screaming in pain, roaring with agony I knew I had never felt before. The burst of flames flashed before my eyes as I saw myself, wracked in chains and being tortured with instruments insanely disgusting and unholy. Then everything went black.

In the reflection, I was swimming in darkness, the occasional light flickering around me before dying again, like a lit candle in the wind. Then it all went clear. I saw my reflection and instantly looked away.

"The elf. Does he still live?" Galadriel nodded. "Where is he?"

"He is here. He knows who you are and avoids you purposely." She answered silkily.

"I will kill him." I swore. "He left my mother."

"That was his choice."

"No! He should have been there for her! He should have protected her from that orc, he should have made her abandon me to stay with him, he should have…should have…killed me." I finished of my angry growl with a whisper.

"Are you so loathing of your own life?" She asked my gently and I fixed my eyes upon hers again.

"Not so much anymore. However in the beginning, it would have been easier had I never existed. For everyone else. My mother did not love the man she married in the tribe. She used him to protect me. Even he never saw my face. I was smuggled into a cave and forgotten, only she came to see me every day. I was kept away from the others, unknown, unreal. I was the monster of the mountain." I recalled bitterly. "I pitied her, she sacrificed so much for me. Something I never gave back."

"You did not need to. She loved you dearly, Rana. She gave you many names. She began with calling you Yaivë."

"Insult." I translated the name with a sigh. Who could blame her?

"Then she called you Vanmoriel. Her dark beauty." I blinked. My real name was Vanmoriel? Galadriel saw my surprise. "Yes. Your real name is Vanmoriel. It was the beasts and animals who commune with you who gave you the name Rana. Wanderer. However, there is a third name."

"A third? How many names does one person need?" I scowled but the lady took no notice.

"Your father, the orc, named you Katala." There was a loud silence. An orcish name, it meant monster.

"Katala." I stated dumbly, staring at her in shock. "He named me?"

"He searched for you for most of his life. His shock creation, the Dark Lord commanded you be brought to him and so you were hunted for. Your mother kept you hidden and safe with what little power she had. Then you left at fifteen, forgetting your own name, your own identity, you forgot who you were."

"And who am I, Lady Galadriel, who am I?" I challenged, staring down at her with eyes blazing.

"You are Vanmoriel, daughter of Calenmiriel, Rana of the Forest and Animals, Soul Toucher, half beauty, half darkness, child of the First Songs." Galadriel whispered with power. "Protector of the Ringbearer." She took a couple of steps forwards and smiled. "You must not forget this, Rana. You were meant to live. The Valar gave you their voice. Use it. Protect those you love with it." She lifted her chin. "You are not a monster. You are not evil. You are only what you choose to be."

I pondered on her words then slowly sank to one knee, bowing my head. "Thank you." I whispered. Galadriel's soft finger tilted my chin up towards her. "Live free." She murmured then in a blink of an eye, she was gone. When I walked out of the grove, the sun beginning to rise, it lit up a new me. A changed me. It was a beautiful day.

I walked alone for some time, thinking upon all I had seen in the mirror. And to make sure I too had not fallen mad.

"Halt, who goes there?"

"Rana, daughter of Calenmiriel." I answered. Haldir stepped forwards and nodded to me.

"I could not see you from behind the trees." I nodded in understanding then began to walk on. "Is there a particular place you are going, creature?" He asked me, not unkindly.

"No. I wish only for peace of mind." I gave him the gentle hint and he took it.

"Twenty seven minutes, then you must return before the patrols change. Then you may meet me at the archery range."

"Twenty seven?" I challenged with amusement but nodded my consent. I could not wait to see how this ended.

I was given a spare bow and some arrows by Haldir before he watched me shoot an arrow at a swinging target. It was a fair shot, nothing special.

"You have shot before, haven't you? That was appalling." He told me.

"I have had to make my own bows all my life. I had to make do." I snapped at him haughtily. I released another arrow which landed slightly better but still not good enough for him. He watched me train for ages, calling out advice and remarks whenever he saw fit.

"Twenty seven." I suddenly called. He frowned at me, his brow creasing noticeably. "Twenty seven arrows." His brow smooth and his eyes danced with laughter.

"Well then. Let us see how you fare with a sword in your hands."