Though they were polite enough not to stare openly, Tauriel could feel the eyes of Lothlórien's elves upon her as Elladan and Elrohir led the way into the Golden Wood.

Let them stare, she thought, and held her head high.

The panther and the falcon—Peré was perched on Ranárë's shoulder—were openly whispered about; there was wonder that the great feline walked so calmly among the horses. Thêllenn also received curious looks, the elves recognizing that the ebony mare who walked among them guided by her will alone was no ordinary horse. Tauriel had thus far refused the suggestions of her companions to bridle or saddle the Meara—she was still not entirely certain she had the right, or even why the horse had latched onto her. So she had left her unfettered, ensuring the animal understood she was free to come and go as she pleased.

So far, she had chosen to stay.

Elladan and Elrohir insisted Tauriel join them when they introduced Ranárë to their grandparents and sister. She hadn't wanted to, but knew it would be rude to refuse. After the group's horses had been stabled and Ranárë had directed her animal companions to remain with them, she reluctantly trailed behind the twins and the Maia, dropping even behind Bronwë and Melvar, with Laivindil walking beside her.

Galadriel and Celeborn's welcome of their grandsons was warm and elicited smiles and embraces from both. Ranárë they seemed to regard with a small amount of awe and a great deal of respect; given what she had revealed to Tauriel the night she'd been introduced to Maglor, it was no wonder that those who were considered the greatest of her kin would all but bow down to the Istari.

It was far better to think on that than the fact that the closer she got to Dale—though there were miles yet to go—she could feel her bond with Bard growing in strength. Knowing he was so close made her nervous about seeing him again after so many weeks away.

Thinking about Ranárë was also far more comfortable than having to recognize that she was kin to the woman who had brought her marriage to ruin in a matter of hours.

Just as she had that thought, Galadriel turned her gaze toward her and smiled. "Welcome back, redhwin."

Tauriel felt her spine stiffen involuntarily. Of course she already knows, she thought sourly even as her voice replied politely, "Galadriel." Probably read our minds from the moment we came near the first tree.

No, Daughter of the Forest, I knew the moment I met you—as I also felt the bond of our kinship, Galadriel said in her mind.

Rage suddenly overcame Tauriel, and she pushed her way to the fore of the group. "Is that why you did it?" she demanded. "Is that why you encouraged me to look into that accursed mirror of yours—just so I'd find out Maglor is my grandfather and you my distant kin? You could have just told me!"

Her angry tirade elicited stunned gasps from all her companions—except for Ranárë, who merely raised an eyebrow—and a scowl from Celeborn. The elf-lord took a step toward her but stopped when his wife laid a placating hand on his arm.

"Had I simply revealed our kinship, you would not have believed me," Galadriel replied.

"You don't know that!" Tauriel cried as tears of anger and heartache stung her eyes. "I don't care what powers you possess, you don't know that! You don't know because you never bothered to try. I was happy, damn it! I was in love and happy with the man who saved me from fading, and that stupid mirror ruined everything!"

A hand came to rest on her shoulder but she shrugged it off. "Maybe it was naïve of me to bond myself to Bard without considering what his death would do to me, but I was happy. I didn't need to know about Maglor, or the twins and Arwen, or you. I had a family in Bard and his children—a family that may now turn me away in anger for what I've done. And all because of that…that stupid…"

As suddenly as it had risen her ire deflated, and the emotional overload of the past four months came crashing down on her. Tauriel's breath hitched in her chest as she fought vainly against a great sob of pain and fell to her knees. Galadriel immediately knelt down and drew her against her chest. Tauriel wanted to fight her off but found she did not have the strength, and so she unabashedly wailed her grief against her shoulder.

"Leave us," Galadriel said, and her words were heeded by all—even Celeborn.

The two of them knelt in the middle of the flet's landing, Galadriel gently rubbing her back and rocking her, until Tauriel's sobs fell silent. "I am deeply sorry to have led you to such pain, redhwin," the elder elleth said softly. "I had foreseen that you would look into the mirror, but I did not know what it would show you. And though I knew you as my kin from our first meeting, I knew you were not yet ready to hear of it. The time had not come for you to accept it."

"So I had to…to run away…for that time to come?" Tauriel asked, her words broken by hiccups still disturbing her breath.

Galadriel sat back from her. "I do not know—perhaps you had to run away to find out who you are, who you were meant to be. It is likely the same reason you left Mirkwood at your back, for I do not believe it was your destiny to always remain in the dark of the forest you were named for, but to see and know the world around it also."

When she looked up at her at last, Tauriel saw in her eyes a mixture of sadness and sympathy—and yes, a small measure of guilt as well. "You said our love would survive what was to come," she said. "If you did not know what the mirror would show me, how did you know I would run?"

"I did not quite know that, either. I knew only that you would look into the mirror, and that you would experience great pain. But I had also foreseen the two of you together, so I believed you would overcome whatever hurt befell you," Galadriel replied.

"Do you know if Bard is going to forgive me?"

"I believe he will, but there are trials yet you must both face before that time comes."

Tauriel scoffed as she wiped at her face. "Great, something to look forward to," she mused darkly.

With a huff, she pushed to her feet and straightened her clothes. Galaldriel stood as well, and it suddenly dawned on her that she was smiling. "Now what?" she snapped.

"You think you know how to save him," her companion observed.

Startled, Tauriel stepped back. Then she frowned. "I'd appreciate it very much if you stayed out of my head," she told her firmly. "I think you've meddled enough in my affairs, my Lady."

"My apologies," Galadriel said, inclining her head as she did so. "But the thought was quite strong, so much so that I could not help but…overhear it, so to speak."

"Will it work?" she asked bluntly.

Galadriel sighed softly. "I'm afraid I do not know the answer to that. The outcome of the trials ahead of you will determine both your fates."

She then tilted her head aside and said, "Tell me, redhwin, from where did you get the idea—or rather, from whom?"

"From Lord Elrond. He told me of his ancestors and I… I just thought maybe I could do the same," Tauriel said.

"Was Bard planning to take the company to Rivendell?"

"No, or he'd have found me there and we'd be together now. Why do you ask?"

Galadriel's smile widened. "Then that is why. Why you looked into the mirror, why you fled in fear though you are deeply in love. It was not to learn of your lineage but to meet with my daughter's husband, that he might give you hope."

The realization that she was right was staggering, and Tauriel took another step back. Shock coursed through her, and she knew it was in her expression as she looked back at the other woman.

"You were but an instrument, as was the stupid mirror," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "But why? Why would the Valar do this to me—why would they put me through such torment?"

Another smile, a softer one, graced Galadriel's lips as she said, "Without the darkness, dearest cousin, how would we recognize the light?"

Tauriel thought about that for a moment, then said, "The only light that I wish to see will be to have my love smile at me once more."

She turned away and started for the stairs but stopped when she realized she had no idea where her bed would be that night.

"Your friends are waiting for you at the base of the tree. They will show you where to go."

Without looking back, Tauriel acknowledged Galadriel's words with a nod. She took a step down but was stopped a second time when the elder elleth spoke again.

"You are not the only one with regrets, Tauriel. Many times have I wished my foresight were not so limited, that it showed me all possible outcomes when I take steps to ensure certain visions come to pass."

"Do you ever stop to think about how your interference will affect the people you see in those visions?" Tauriel asked over her shoulder. "That instead of meddling in the affairs of others, you ought let those events you see play out as they will, whether they happen as you see them or the course changes as the people in them change? Have you never once stopped to consider that things might turn out differently if you left well enough alone?"

She turned around then. "And even if you feel compelled to get involved regardless, did you ever consider that even you are not bound by what you foresee? I would never have looked into that blasted mirror of yours had you not encouraged me to do so. I would never have run away from Bard. Instead of having me look into the mirror, you could have taken me into your confidence and explained that you believed us to be kin. You could have instead encouraged me to seek out Lord Elrond and ask his counsel on how I might survive the loss of my mate.

"But you did none of those things, and I cannot help but relate the pain I have since felt to you and that mirror. Also, at this moment I cannot imagine a day where I will be able to stand in your presence and not wish to be elsewhere."

With her feelings confessed Tauriel turned around once more and walked away.