Thanks to everyone who follows and reviews the story. Love to hear more of what you think. We finally get to the long awaited reunion.
-Edith
Lauren's mind was surprisingly calm as she hiked slowly into the woods behind the country house. It had been two days since the bombshell revelation at the dinner table about her birth parents. Her cousins, George and Juliette and arrived the next day. Middle earth had not been mentioned as the family celebrated David Johnson's birthday. That evening, exactly one day after the revelation, there had been a sumptuous dinner. Afterwards, champagne and cake had been served and party broke into small groups to chat. David, Robert and Juliette were engrossed in a conversation about raising money for a new wing at the hospital where she was a trauma surgeon when Lauren saw the opportunity to pull George aside.
George Johnson and his sister Juliette were the children of David's younger brother. The families were close, and for as long as Lauren could remember, George and Juliette were like siblings to her. They spent many summers as children on the family's country estate, enjoying the simple pleasures of childhood. They had always known Lauren was adopted, and like the rest of the family, fiercely guarded Lauren's privacy on the matter. George defied family convention by announcing he wanted to join the army as a young man. His intelligence guaranteed him success through officer training school after he completed basic training. He graduated with honors and for the last year, had been a successful commander of a platoon of soldiers. Lauren had always viewed George as a role model: principled, compassionate, intelligent. It was because of her regard for him that she found it difficult to omit the exact reasons why she and Michael had wanted him to join them on a hike the following morning.
"Don't you need some exercise George?" she asked.
"At 5:30 in the morning?" George retorted.
"I thought you'd be used to getting up early, you're in army after all." Lauren pressed.
"Yea, and that's why I so enjoy being on leave. Besides, hasn't your dad always warned us that trail was dangerous – surveyor's wells?" George asked.
Lauren took a deep breath. "Dad's wrong, there are no wells. But there's supposed to be a beautiful pond, quite enchanting really" she had lied. She really squirmed when she added "pack some gear, we'll camp the night."
In the end, George relented. They had left at dawn, ostensibly to get started before the day's heat began. They'd really done it so as not to encounter any resistance her father and brother may have put up. About an hour into the hike, George laid down the gauntlet.
"Lauren, are you going to tell me the truth as to why we're out here or keep feeding me some story about a beautiful lake?" he challenged.
"What do you mean? We're heading towards the lake, you can see yourself" Lauren replied in an air of feigned lightness.
"I've known you your whole life, I know when you're lying to me. I would never judge you, whatever is going on, I've not done anything to make you think that I would. It hurts me that you don't think you can tell me the truth." George sighed.
Lauren looked at Michael, wondering whether they should bring George into the know. Michael replied with a look placing the decision in her hands.
"You're not going to believe it…"she trailed off.
"Try me" George had insisted.
And so, as they sat on the dewy grass and ate a simple breakfast, Lauren filled her cousin in on the events of the past two days. George remained silent throughout the Lauren's explanation. His only reaction was a slight raise in his eyebrows. When Lauren was done, all eyes were on George.
His response was typical of a military commander. "Well, let's go find out if there's portal." George had decided a long time ago that nothing would change how he felt about his cousins, he would stand by Lauren no matter the consequences. Lauren gave him a grateful look, and with a weight lifted off her shoulders, the trio resumed their trek.
By late morning, they had arrived at their destination. With just the sound of the wind and crickets surrounding them, the threesome gathered beside the pond. Lauren took the initiative.
"I guess we're supposed to step inside" she said unsurely, gesturing towards the pond.
"I can go first, make sure it's safe" Michael offered.
"Or me" George volunteered.
"No, I should go. The people on the other side, they're supposed to be my family" Lauren declined their well intentioned offers. After making sure her sack was on snugly, she gingerly stepped into the portal. When Lauren had gone through, Michael and George followed.
The portal and its surroundings were deserted at their destination. The travellers looked at each other with incredulity. The rising heat of the morning was now replaced with a dewy shaded cool. The plains surrounding the pond had transformed into the majestic woods of Lothlorien. It was obvious they were inside a private garden. It's serene tranquility disturbed only by the travellers' incredulous looks and gasps. They had come through a waterfall at one corner of the garden. In the middle, lay a pedestal upon which stood a flattened, stone bowl. As Lauren walked across the center of the garden, she stole a quick glance into the orifice. Inside, a thin layer of still water. Lauren saw her own reflection staring back at her. She'd assumed it was her own reflection. She startled when she realized it wasn't her. The woman in the reflection looked older, with the same shade of fair hair and blue eyes, but pleated in a manner Lauren had never done hers. She wore a gleaming circlet on her forehead, encircling her hair. The reflection smiled at her, and then turned to her left walking towards something beyond the edges of the water.
"Lauren, the exit is over here" George interrupted Lauren's momentary vision. This snapped Lauren into attention, and she quickly stepped off the pedestal, towards a set of arches designating the entryway to the garden, under which George and Michael stood.
The trio left the garden and walked along an earthy path in the enchanted woods. It seemed deserted, only the sounds of their feet rustling the moss and leaves beneath them.
"There's no sign of civilization" Michael remarked.
No sooner had those words left his mouth, the group found themselves surrounded by numerous soldiers pointing arrows squarely at them.
"I'd say that's some civilization right there, pointing those arrows at us" George commented dryly.
The soldiers were all dressed in the same uniform of dark grey tunics with hoods and trousers. Each carried a sword at his side and a bow and arrow on his back, which were now currently notched and aimed at the visitors from the other side of the portal. They all wore a stern, decidedly unfriendly look.
"The civilized do not walk so heavily as you do" their leader said sarcastically. Though he was dressed in the same uniform, the leader moved with an air of command and the soldiers parted for him as he approached the group. "What business does a threesome of mortals have in the realm of the Lord and Lady of Light?" he demanded.
Lauren felt compelled to answer him, this was after all, her journey. "We came through a portal at the waterfalls, from another world. I am looking for –" she hesitated before finishing with resolve "for my family. They were elves. They gave up a baby girl, that's all I know."
Eyes widened in the elven group. They all knew who the woman was talking about. The history of Princess Luthien's loss was a tragedy of their people. Few imagined they'd witness her return.
"And you are…" the commander asked carefully, guarding his emotions.
"My name is Lauren Johnson. My birth parents, they gave me up when I was a baby. I was adopted and taken to a new world" came the emotionless answer. Lauren hated discussing her private life with strangers. "And you?" She asked pointedly.
"I am Haldir, marchwarden of the Galadhrim. You are in the woods of Lothlorien, realm of Lord Celeborn and Galadriel, Lady of Light. We know of whom you seek." Haldir answered. He was clearly proud of his people, his soldiers and utmostly devoted to them. With that, he gestured his soldiers to lower their arrows with one swift nod. "We will need to search you and your companions" he stated, it was not a request.
Lauren looked to George, and he nodded his agreement. Their bags were opened and the men were frisked. When no effort was made to search Lauren, she insisted that she be searched as well - there was no reason to be differentiated from her party. The elven soldier hesitated, looking towards his commander for approval. Haldir's steely gaze turned towards Lauren.
"There is no need to search you my lady. I know you mean no harm" Haldir said.
"They are my family, you will treat me the same" Lauren insisted. Haldir smiled inwardly. That the woman was Princess Luthien was no doubt. Her features were so similar to her mother's; she had clearly taken to her mother's willful personality as well.
"Very well" came Haldir's cold reply. His warden hesitated slightly, and then, very awkwardly searched the Princess of the realm.
"We will be escorting you into the City, Caras Garadhon" Haldir stated. "Rumil, Orophin" he gestured "guard the two men". Two lieutenants stepped forward and flanked Michael and George.
This did not sit well with Lauren. "I'm here to find my family, not stage an invasion" she said loudly.
"Lauren, it's fine. They're just doing their jobs, they're protecting their people" George reasoned.
"We don't mind Lauren, we just want you to find your family" Michael added reassuringly.
This tempered Lauren. "And I suppose you're going to be my prison guard?" she said snarkily to Haldir.
"If that's what you suppose" came the calm answer.
With that, the group began moving. At first, they walked silently. After a while, conversation began to flow from the back of the group where George and Michael were. Naturally, George would find easy conversation with fellow soldiers – a shared brotherhood which crossed all borders.
After a while, it seemed the continuing silence between Lauren and the Captain was becoming awkward.
"Do you know the people that I'm looking for?" she asked.
"You seem anxious to find them, yet unhappy that you will soon meet them" Haldir commented. It was not his place to tell Lauren about her family, that would be intruding her family's right. Haldir reminded himself he was her guardian; first and foremost his duty was to ensure her safety. A duty he has never forgiven himself for failing once before. Yet, Haldir could also not forget the tenderness in his heart for the baby he once cooed in his arms. A baby, Haldir admitted to himself, who had grown into a fierce and confident beauty – she'd become every Haldir had always thought she would be. Yet, he could also easily sense Lauren's anger. It was barely contained in her calm demeanor. He knew that to her, it seemed she had been given away, yet he could not tell her the truth – it was not his right and it was so complicated he did not know where to begin.
"I'm here to meet the people that I'm physically related to. To satisfy some unfortunate need I have to see where I come from, though I can't imagine that I would ever like those god forsaken people" Lauren said spitefully, hiding the hurt beneath.
To Lauren's surprise, Haldir's tone softened. "I implore you to hear their side of the story. You will find your family love you very much" he said gently.
"I don't believe that's any of your business" Lauren closed the subject. She did not want to get into the complex matter of her family with a stranger.
Haldir had sent a courier ahead of the party, to inform the royal family of the party's arrival. The large yet intricately ornate gates of the city swung open as the group approached. They were led to the largest flet, on the largest tree in the center of the city. A small group of elves was assembled, eagerly awaiting their arrival.
When the courier had entered the dining room where the family and its guests had gathered for dinner, the news had startled its occupants.
Elrond could not believe the news. "Could you repeat yourself, warden" he asked.
"My Lord Elrond, our patrol came upon a group of three mortals in the woods today. Two men and a woman. They were dressed strangely. When the marchwarden questioned them, the woman stepped forth and said they had come from a different world. She said she was looking for her family. That she knew elves had given up an infant girl and the baby was taken to another world. She was looking for her relatives" the courier reported.
The room remained in stunned silence. "What did she look like" Elrond inquired eagerly.
"My Lord, she – she looked very much like Lady Celebrian. She has the fairness of her hair and features of her face bear the resemblance of Lady Celebrian" came the answer Elrond had been wishing for these many years past.
"It's Luthien" Elrond said with emotion. It was the first joy his children had seen in him for centuries.
"Ada, of course we hope it's Luthien. But please don't get your hopes up" Arwen warned. Over the years, Elrond had doggedly chased every rumour of Luthien's return, always to find heartbreak and disappointment. Arwen did not want her father to go through it again.
"I sense it is Luthien, the pureness of her spirit is unmistakable" Galadriel interjected.
As the elves, the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien, Lord Elrond and his children quickly gathered in the adjoining room to meet the travellers from Earth, Elrond suddenly hesitated.
"I do not know how she will react. There is so much to be said, yet, I only want to say how much she is loved" Elrond said uncertainly.
"You are her Ada, say to her what is in your heart" Galadriel soothed.
Haldir entered the room first. His gaze met with Elrond's briefly, he gave a slight nod before stepping aside and ushering in Lauren, Michael and George flanked by Orophin and Rumil. Elrond gasped as he beheld his grown daughter, for the first time in centuries. She stood slightly apart and in front of the two men. Her appearance clearly marked her as Celebrian's daughter. Seeing Lauren brought back Elrond's memories of his beloved wife. In her face, Elrond also saw faint traces of his own features, the cheekbones higher than Celebrian's were – a mark of her father.
Lauren eyed the dark-haired elf carefully. He had stared at her as soon as she entered the room and he seemed very emotional at the sight of her. She looked around the room and saw 3 younger dark haired elves – his children, the family resemblance between them was obvious. Then there was an elven couple who were blond. The same shade of blond as her own hair, the same shade of blue eyes. This couple seemed to glow an ethereal light.
Surprisingly, it was Michael who broke the ice. "We're searching for a family, who gave a baby many years ago. A girl – she was taken from this world by a couple with a son."
"It's uh – it's me. I'm looking for my birth family" Lauren quickly added. '
While Elrond was getting his emotions under control, Galadriel stepped forward. "I am Lady Galadriel, this is Celeborn – you are in the realm of Lothlorien. The baby, she was our grand daughter. Our daughter Celebrian, she was your mother"
Elrond, too, stepped forward slowly. "I am Elrond, your father. I am so happy you have returned Luthien my love" he moved to grasp her hands and brought them to his lips. Before he could give her a heartfelt kiss, Lauren stepped back and pulled her hands away from him.
"What do you think you're doing?" she said in disgust.