Disclaimer: Durn. I still don't own LotR!

This is a re-posting of this chapter because of the spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes, and punctuation mistakes. It was driving me crazy when I looked back at it. :-D This was the last chapter that I wrote before I went on my 'writer's block-streak'…so I believe that is why it was filled with so many glaring mistakes!

A/N: Yay! I'm on a roll! Another chapter up in less than a week!

Falcyn Nathronoelei: Hehe! Well…I think you're right when saying 'will forever remain a mystery'!

Zeech: Hehe! I tried to add something funny in there…it was getting rather serious (although, this story IS serious…hrm…maybe there's a connections? ::grin::) Anyhoo…nice to find that Rogue has some supporters, eh?

Saige: ::grin:: Thankies!

Tara: LOL! I understand…I knew when I picked that name I might get a few people that would read it thinking about X-Men. Whatcha going to do? Hehe!

Kiara: Ah! Understandable…thanks for noticing my subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) hints!

Chapter 26: The Lady's Magic

Sleep
Sleep tonight
And may your dreams
Be realized
If the thundercloud
Passes rain
So let it rain
Rain on him
 -"MLK", U2

Haldir looked at Rogue for a second, trying to decide whether or not to argue with her. There was no doubt that she was injured, yet her spirit was certainly not broken. He realized that arguing was foolish…especially since the Fellowship wished her to come along. Hoping that the Lord and Lady would not punish him too harshly for leading the betrayer into Lothlorien, he nodded.

"Very well. You will come into Lothlorien, your sight unhindered, such as your companions," Haldir finally spoke.

Victory sprung into Rogue's eyes. It was not often that Haldir backed down…but now was one of those times. As Sam picked up the rest of the Company's various equipment, such as the pot use to heat water, Aragon moved swiftly towards Rogue. About to complain that she didn't need or want the help, Rogue suddenly decided against it. Like before, she knew there was no way to walk on her own.

This time, however, in Aragorn's arms, she didn't grow as comfortable like she had in their journey towards Lothlorien. Watching Haldir keenly, she kept her sense alert for the other elves that normally traveled with Haldir. She hated when they were able to surprise her…or when they weren't around all together. When they weren't there, it normally meant they were reporting back to the Lord and Lady.

Haldir led the group at a rather leisurely pace. It was odd for the Elf…normally he walked briskly. His realization that there were Hobbits in the group must have slowed him down…not to mention his consideration for Aragorn, who was carrying the weight of Rogue, and even though her weight was little, was still, nonetheless, weight.

The strange group traveled through the gold-tipped forest, the setting sun creating shadows under the trees. A breeze sang around the long branches, a few lone birds joining the melody. The Fellowship looked around, taking in the beauty around them. They had all been blindfolded once they passed the river the last time they were here…but this time, they would be allowed to enjoy as the pleased.

Haldir stopped in front of a medium sized river. The rocks at the bottom were smooth from centuries of water running over them. Their grayish color seemed to be flocked with silver, reflecting the bright sunlight with a strange brilliance. The water ran clear, joyfully gurgling over the rocks. Small splashes overlapped the edge of the river, bringing up a tiny pebble or two that was not worthy enough to be among the ones along the bottom of the river.

Stepping in, Haldir led the group into the refreshing coolness of the river, followed by Legolas…then Aragorn. Gandalf, Boromir, Gimli, and the hobbits joined in slowly. As the group waded further into the river, they found the water went up to the Men's and Elves' midriff…meaning that the Hobbits and Gimli were almost fully submersed. Boromir walked alongside Merry and Pippin, helping to keep them afloat when their 'swimming' faltered. Gandalf did the same for Sam and Frodo, while watching, amused, as Gimli tried to battle against the water by himself. If he were not as weighted down, his efforts might have succeeded. Yet he was in armor…which sank him quicker than he had imagined. Boromir, who had, by now, strapped Rogue's word to his waist, also reached over to Gimli every few minutes to pull him above the water.

Haldir had been leading the group in a diagonal line down the river…both moving them across and further along in the rushing water. Stepping quickly onto the shore of the side opposite of where they began, Haldir waited until all the Fellowship had joined him upon the shore. The Hobbits, and Gimli, were quite a site to see - drenched from head to toe, inhaling deeply as they tried to get over their exertion from trying to swim against the water.

As they all gathered together on the shore, Haldir promptly started to lead them onwards. The gold-roofed forest seemed to vibrate with magic and the leaves shuddered with every breeze. As they walked on, the elves of Lothlorien left their hiding places among the trees ad continued their regular activities. Some, however, just watched the group curiously from their homes or lounging underneath a large tree. Looking up, the Company noticed flooring built among the branches. Bed rolls sat, empty, on the sturdy elf-rooms.

"Haldir," a pale-skinned elven maid said as she walked towards the group from some trees in front of them.

Stopping so he could converse with the teenaged elf, the Fellowship watched.

"What is it, Tewiel?"

"The Lady has requested the one known as 'Rogue' be looked upon by Málad. She says 'she is no good with only one leg'." As the girl finished her statement, she let her gaze slip from Haldir to the Fellowship behind him. Her gaze was expecting…looking from each member of the group, seeing which one would say they went by the name 'Rogue'. As she looked at each one, her eyes rested on Rogue, who was sitting restlessly in Aragorn's arms. She looked familiar…but she couldn't place where she had seen her before.

"I have no need of the Lady's help," Rogue spat.

In return, the girl only gave a gracious smile. "Perhaps not…but if you were to allow Málad to look upon your wounded leg, we could make a fair judgement."

With a cold, defiant stare, Rogue answered, "And if I allow you to do this, will you force your strange solutions upon me?"

"No, of course not, Rogue. We force not anyone to do anything. If you feel you are not in need of whatever we may give you, you may throw it out before it touches your skin."

Rogue sighed reluctantly. "Fine. If the Lady wills it, I shall have to follow…or be hounded by her minions for the rest of my time here."

Smiling, Tewiel gave a slight bow, then turned to Haldir and did he same. Looking over her shoulder, she sent her gentle voice over to Aragorn. "If you would follow me…"

Nodding, he began to follow her. She led in a fast-paced footing, a pace normal to Lothlorien elves that did many small tasks. Tewiel walked off the main path and led further into the woods. The large trees towered above them, almost blocking the setting sun and barely visible moon. The evening breeze brought a sharp coolness, rustling the sparkling gold-painted leaves on the trees' branches. They walked on, through an endless amount of forest, passing the folk of Lothlorien.

As they walked up to a tree with a particularly large platform in its branches, an elven man came out from behind its trunk. Smiling thankfully, he motioned towards the ground by the tree's trunk. "Thank you for going out of your way and bringing Rogue here. The Lady thanks you. Here, you may set her down over here."

Nodding, Aragorn walked over to the spot that was mentioned and carefully placed Rogue down. He set her so she was sitting comfortably, her back against the tree. Feeling as though he had done a thorough job, he backed up and looked at the elven healer.

Before he could speak, the healer shook her head with a kindly smile. "Go back to your companions now…the Lady wishes to see all of you again. I will find someone who will move Rogue if she still needs such help."

Taking a glance back at Rogue, Strider once again nodded to show he had heard. Rogue, it seemed, had grown sour over their short trip to find the elvish healer. Perhaps, he thought, it was the idea of her having to be seen being carried in front of many people…the elves of Lothlorien.

He turned and followed Tewiel, who had been waiting for Aragorn. As they walked off, Rogue and the healer could hear Tewiel faintly. "You will find your Company right where you separated from them. Haldir wishes for you to be within the Fellowship when the Lady sees them once more."

Rogue's eyes widened slightly as she replayed Aragorn's glance at her throughout her mind. Her eyes had met his for that second and she became lost within the strange picture before her. Valar, it wasn't love that coursed through her mind…not even the love for a fellow companion on a quest. No, that was certainly not it. Yet she grew lost in the deep, grey eyes…It was as if time had suddenly no meaning and she was looking into the eyes of one of her father's friends. The one she had called -

"Mithren-heneb dúnaden*," She murmured.

So lost in her new revelation that she had not even realized the healer had been speaking to her.

"I'm sorry…I didn't catch what you said. Can you repeat it?" He asked kindly.

Rogue shook her head, just as much as to clear her mind as to tell the healer 'no'. "Never mind. It was not of importance."

Kneeling down beside her, he gently took her right leg into his hands and began examining it while talking. "My name is Málad….it is an amazing thing to see you here. From their stories I have heard, I believed you would not set foot upon this forest, or the ones guarding the edges would not let you in." Still gently bending and touching her leg, he noted the grimace she created when he bent her leg at her knee. Murmuring to himself, he gently touched the area in which the muscles were sprained. "Ah…yes. Certainly not a break, or even a fracture. But perhaps…a nasty twist. And what could you have done to get this as an injury?"

Rogue looked around at the silent forest. It was peaceful…and she would have felt almost…calm, had Málad not been messing with her leg. She took a deep breath, determined not to vocally express her pain. Instead, her face distorted into different grimaces. Waiting a few moments before she spoke, she became nonchalant…except when her leg was bent. "Many would believe I would not appear in places…I tend to prove most wrong." She ignored his last question and kept her voice definite. Málad gave up trying to speak with her, knowing the questions he had would no be answered.

Laying Rogue's leg down gently, he moved over to the tree trunk and gracefully climbed up it, landing quietly onto the platform. Leaning over a group of bottles strewn across his floor, he picked two odd ones. The first seemed to be of maple syrup consistency, with a pale yellow color. The seconds of the two bottles was thin, running much like water. A dark, olive green colored it, along with black speckles of something unknown.

Leaning down once again, Málad picked up a finely crafted glass from a pile he had by his vials. Taking the three items into his hands, he whisked down the tree, standing in front of Rogue, smiling. The glass he held was lovely…it seemed to be made for wine. The base had intricate vines and flowers carved into it, with some of the vines "growing" upward and were found on the upper part of the cup. Kneeling down next to Rogue, he placed the bottle holding the yellow liquid on the ground. Then, he unscrewed the cap from the bottle containing the green liquid. Holding the glass in his left hand, he poured the green liquid into the cup so that it filled halfway. Re-screwing the cap back on, he now picked up the vile holding the yellow liquid and opened it. Málad poured it into the glass slowly, stopping when the glass was 3/4 full.

Smiling, he handed the glass to an uncertain Rogue. Picking up his bottles, he returned back up his tree to place them back in their spots. Rogue held the glass carrying the near-blue mixture delicately in her right hand. Raising her voice, she questioned it. "What is the need for this solution?"

The healer smiled at her as he made his way, once again, down from his sleeping quarters. "It is to help with your leg."

The news seemed to clarify nothing for Rogue. "I wish not take it. I know not what it could do."

The elf gave a little chuckle. "You are right to question such a mixture. I know not what it will do, for each time I use it, it does something different. It does only what the Lady bids it to…I wold drink it if given to me. I believe you will find yourself walking once again sooner than you expected. I promise you, no harm shall come about you…it is not in my blood to harm anything living. It is why I am a healer."

Rogue looked down on her glass, silent. The fingers on her left-hand carefully traced the edge of the glass as she tried to decide what to do. Closing her eyes, she allowed the Lady Galadriel to use a small amount of magic through the potion. Letting the fluid slide down her throat, she was surprised to find that flavor much like water tainted with a small amount of strawberries. Tracing the edges of the now empty glass with her fingers, she let her mind drift into a muddle of thoughts. Her eyes slowly closed, allowing herself to slowly fall asleep once more.

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* Mithren-heneb dúnaden - elvish for: gray-eyed man, look back on Chapter 21