Chapter 14

For the first time in weeks, it was raining in the Golden Wood. Holly watched as the rain poured from the sky, flooding the forest floor with water, from the comfort of healing talan. She had finished her work for the day an hour or so earlier, the last of the returning wardens having returned home some time ago. As she was cleaning up her things and tidying her station, the rain had began. Ilwe had arrived moments ago, utterly soaked and dripping all over the floor boards. Holly had elected, therefore, to wait out the storm in the healing talan.

Ilwe was occupied with setting up her supplies and stripping the sheets off the cots. Holly got up to help her, figuring that she may as well be useful until the rain let up. It was so unusual, she felt, for it to rain in Lothlórien, though her friends had said that it was not. It was simply that the autumn and winter were drier months, and the spring was wet. It wasn't so different from Earth in that way. In fact, Holly had been more or less able to identify the changing seasons as they happened. She had arrived in late autumn, when the leaves were golden. Unlike on Earth, however, the leaves of the mellyrn did not fall in autumn, but in the spring. Several weeks earlier she had been shocked to find that suddenly the beautiful, shining mellyrn were bare, and the ground was carpeted with fallen leaves. She had been quickly reassured, however, that they would soon grow back, with flowers and blooms. She was beginning to see the small buds of flowers on the branches of the mellyrn, and was profoundly happy to see them return. Though Lothlórien was not generally a rainy place, it had rained far too frequently for her liking. She missed the sun, the cloudless nights where she could spend her waking hours staring at the stars. She missed evenings at Elenalcar, dancing with her friends, and making new friends.

Holly suddenly perked up at the thought of Elenalcar. Perhaps, if the rain let up, there would be a gathering there later! After all, the wardens had returned today, and there was usually a celebration on the eve of their arrival. She looked back out the window gloomily and then turned her head to speak to Ilwe,

"Does it always rain this much in the spring, Ilwe?" she asked with a disheartened sigh. Ilwe turned her pretty face to look back at Holly with a grim smile,

"No, not usually. I think it's doing it because it is your first spring here and it wants to make an impression."

"Who is 'it'?" asked Holly with a dry laugh, "The god of rain and gloom? The weeping spirit of the Golden Wood?"

Ilwe threw her head back and the sound of her laugh seemed to clear the room of greyness,
"You have become such a poet, Holly!"

Holly smiled at Ilwe, "Thank you, my friend." she looked outside again and the rain seemed to be dissipating. She peered down the path to her talan thoughtfully, wondering if maybe she had enough time to make it back there before the rain got bad again. "I think I will make an attempt at getting home."

Ilwe smiled encouragingly, "Good luck! I wish there was a way to be sure you got home safely. It is so slippery out there, I nearly lost my footing in the mud."

Text me? Holly thought with a snicker.

"I will be careful." she said, grabbing her cloak and wrapping it around her shoulders. The woolen material would keep her warm and dry, at least. She pulled the hood up over her head and waved goodbye, "I will see you tomorrow. Remember, Nestarion will not be in, so it shall just be you and I."

Ilwe rolled her eyes, "Yes, I remember. I am the senior healer, after all. It is rather my job to remember, seeing as I will be in charge in his absence."

Holly mocked bowed at her friend, twirling her hands about her in feigned reverence, "My apologies, master."

Ilwe chucked a dirty rag at her and Holly ducked it deftly with a laugh. She opened the door and breathed in the damp smell of grass, flower and forest, "Goodbye!"

She heard Ilwe wish her a good evening, and shut the door behind her. Holly pulled her cloak tightly around her – it was not cold, but it was very wet, and though the rain was not coming down hard anymore, it was still coming down with consistency. She had made it nearly halfway to her talan, dreaming of a nice cup of tea and perhaps a soak in the springs later, if Elenalcar was not a option, when she was stopped on the path by the sound of her name being called behind her,

"Lady Holly!" called the voice, "Lady Holly!"

Holly turned around abruptly to see one of Haldir's warden, Erendir. This was the same elf she had seen so gravely injured a few months earlier, and she was pleased to see him up on his feet, "Erendir! I am pleased to see you looking so well. How are you feeling?"

The poor elf looked rather confused at her colloquial use of his name, "I am well...thank you?"

Holly smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry, you would not know me. I helped Nestarion tend to your wounds when you were brought to the healing telain. I was very worried about you, but I'm happy to see that you are just fine."

Erendir beamed at her, coming closer. He was handsome, with the long golden hair of the Silvan elves, and sparkling green eyes that were both young and old, "Ai! I am sorry, I only now realised that you must have tended to me. Thank you, Lady Holly. I am forever in Master Nestarion's debt, and yours as well. Had it not been for your expert hand, I may not be standing before you now."

He then bowed politely at her, touching his heart with his hand and looking up into her eyes. Holly rested a light hand on his bowed shoulder and smiled, "Nonsense, it is my job."

Erendir raised himself back to full height, towering over her. Suddenly his eyebrows shot up and he looked quite panicked, "I have an urgent message from Lady Galadriel! You are to report to her immediately!"

Holly looked confused but nodded, "Very well, thank you, Erendir."

"My apologies for delaying you, I fear I was not cut out to be a messenger."

Holly smiled at him, "I am sure the Lady would not mind you thanking one of the healers who helped you. She would find it admirable. Besides, I am sure you will return to the border soon."

Erendir smiled at her and bowed his head again, "I certainly hope so, it is for the Marchwarden to decide, however."

"Well, I, for one, would not want to be at the mercy of the Marchwarden. I do not envy you." she said with a wink and Erendir laughed. It was common knowledge that she and Haldir were good friends, and he understood her joke to be just that. "I should go. Goodbye, Erendir! Take care of yourself."

"Good evening, Lady Holly." responded the elf before bestowing one last dazzling smile on her and walking in the direction Holly had come from.

Holly picked up her pace, not wanting to keep the Lady waiting, despite what she had told Erendir. The rain had stopped, thankfully, so she hoisted up her skirts and the ends of her cloak and broke into a light jog. She arrived at Galadriel's garden quickly, and unsurprisingly, Lady Galadriel was waiting for her there, perched above her mirror, staring into its depths.

"Thank you for coming, Ercassiel." said the Lady without even looking up from her mirror. She stretched an arm out to Holly, gesturing for her to come forward, "I am sorry for taking you away from your relaxing evening, but I have something to discuss with you."

"It's alright, I hadn't quite made it to the relaxing evening part, I was still trying to make it home." Holly smiled, bowing her head in greeting. Galadriel glided over to a stone bench on the edge of the garden and looked down at the empty seat beside her expectantly. Holly shuffled over nervously, feeling very much like a child that was about to hear some very good or very bad news.

"Ercassiel, there has been a messenger from Imladris. Lord Elrond requires that his stores of dried elanor and other herbs be replenished." she said, looking straight ahead, never meeting Holly's curious face, "He cannot, at this moment, spare a rider from Imladris to collect his parcels. I have told him that I will send someone who may bring them to him."

"Alright..." Holly began, very suspicious and not at all fooled by where this conversation was going. It was not the first time that Lady Galadriel had tried to get her to go to Imladris, and though Holly had resisted each attempt, the Lady had yet to request that she go, "And you want me to go? Under the pretense that I bring Lord Elrond the herbs he requires, but really so that I can face my deep, hidden desire to confront my past and learn about my parents."

Galadriel looked over at her with an expression of surprise, but her eyes betrayed her amusement, "You have grown very wise, Ercassiel. But do not view this as nuisance – Nestarion has told me of your progress in healing. He believes that you will soon be ready to use your fëa to heal, and there is no better teacher than Elrond. Besides, I am simply sending you to Imladris. What you do with your time while you are there is up to you."

Holly considered the Lady's request carefully for a moment and let out an involuntary sigh, "I am scared to go, my lady. I feel as though I have only just come to call Lothlórien my home, and I am nervous to leave."

Galadriel looked at the young woman sympathetically and rested an elegant hand over hers, "Naturally, my child. But I shall not send you alone, you shall have an escort. No harm will come to you, the path to Imladris is safe. It shall not always be so, but it is safe now. You may return to the Golden Wood at your desire – you will not be obligated to stay."

Holly nodded, letting her head hang in front of her. She could not help the feelings of dread that bubbled up inside of her. She was afraid to leave Lothlórien, the comfort and safety of the only place in this new world that she knew. She did not really have the intention of learning about her parents like Galadriel wanted, but she did want to learn to use her fëa to heal, and both Galadriel and Nestarion had told her that Lord Elrond was simply the best instructor.

"Who would be in my escort?" she asked. Lady Galadriel waved a hand noncommittally,

"I had not yet thought of it, I was hoping you would agree first." she responded with a light laugh. Holly laughed with her,

"I did not realise that it was a request!" she exclaimed. The Lady's eyes softened,

"It is always a request, Ercassiel. You know what powers I possess, what I can see in my mirror. I see great feats and talents in your future, I only wish to ensure that you are given the opportunities to pursue them."

Placated by this statement, Holly nodded slowly, "I understand, and I would not want to appear ungrateful for all that you have done for me. I felt so lost...and so confused when I first arrived here. You gave me purpose, a profession...it is a wonderful feeling to wake up every morning and know that I can do good that day, and every day, forever."

"Then my final statement before I let you decide shall be this: a strong fëa alone is not enough to make you a great healer. You will need instruction, practice, and dedication. You will never lack for time, Ercassiel, only willingness to learn." The Lady got up from her seat and proffered her hands in front of her, reaching out to Holly, imploring her to take them. Holly rose and took the Lady's hands,

"I will go, my lady. I want to learn. I will take the parcels to Elrond and I will stay to learn from him, if he will have me." she said. Galadriel smiled at the young elleth,

"I am pleased, child. I will write to Elrond, and you will leave shortly, for I think his need of the herbs is dire." she responded, turning from Holly, then looking back quickly, "Tonight I will consider who is to be your escort, I will send for you tomorrow and we shall discuss it."

"Very well, my lady. Thank you...for your advice." Holly said, staring at the ground, suddenly very aware that she was talking to a great ruler, and not a friend. Galadriel had a suspicious way of making you feel very at ease when required.

"I said nothing you did not already know, Ercassiel." said the lady with an amused look, before gliding out of the glare, and up the steps to her talan, leaving Holly perplexed and with a lot to think about.

Holly made her way back to her talan in the rain, noticing, with no small sense of wonder, that Galadriel's garden had been perfectly dry.

"This is not a request, Marchwarden." Galadriel said, sternly, her face impassive. Haldir struggled to keep his displeasure from his face, not wishing to appear disrespectful or disobedient in front of his liege lady. Galadriel sat on a divan in front of him, observing his face patiently, as though looking for signs of dissent.

"I understand, my lady, but surely I will be of better use here, or on the border -"

"Haldir, you are of use wherever you are, but I have need of you on this journey. She cannot go alone, you know this, I cannot spare an entire escort and you have wardens that would benefit from the experience of commanding in your absence." the Lady said, her voice losing its sternness, and softening. "This will beneficial to you and your wardens."

Haldir's lips formed a firm line and he kept his mouth shut. He would not argue or bicker about particularities with the Lady of the Golden Wood. He would do his Lady's bidding, and he would do it without complaint. He knew it made no difference as she could read every thought that passed through his head if she wished it, but then she would read, at least, that he respected her wishes enough not to be obstinate.

"Yes, my lady. When would you like for us to depart?" he asked stiffly. Galadriel smiled graciously at him, as though everything had gone exactly as she planned,

"The day after tomorrow, I should think. We shall need a day to prepare the parcels for Lord Elrond, and a day for yourself and Ercassiel to prepare for the journey. I will have provisions prepared for both of you, and horses saddled. I have not discussed it with her, but I believe Ercassiel is not unfamiliar with travel on horseback. She will not be a hindrance. Besides, I had thought you had grown to be friends?" Galadriel asked with a mischievous smirk. Haldir shuffled uncomfortably,

"We are, my lady. I am just unused to travelling in such close quarters." he said, diplomatically. Galadriel smiled,

"Nonsense, behave as though she were one of your wardens and you shall cope." she responded flippantly, getting up front her seat and gesturing for Haldir to stand as well. She walked him to the archway of the anteroom, the same anteroom, he recalled, where he had first been told of Holly's origins, and of her strange coming to Middle-Earth.

She is far from one of my wardens. None of my wardens have that tantalizing dark hair...or look at me with those unusual eyes..or would dare to be such a nuisance! I have no desire to go to Imladris! The rotas must be reconfigured for the summer, I still need to plan border provision for next winter, and then there is summer training to think of...

"Please desist with your fretting, Marchwarden. It is positively deafening." said Galadriel dryly. Haldir blushed furiously, realising that the Lady had been listening to his thoughts, but naively hoping that she had only noticed the last bit.

"My apologies, my lady." Haldir muttered, waiting patiently to be dismissed. Galadriel stood by the archway and extended an arm to the exit,

"Apology accepted. You will return tomorrow afternoon with Ercassiel. We shall discuss the details and particulars of your journey. You depart at dawn the next day." she said, bidding him goodbye. As he made his way down the steps of the great, wide, talan, he was stopped again by her voice, "I will allow you to inform her of these plans, Haldir."

Haldir only nodded and stormed down the path, muttering under his breath as soon as he was out of earshot of the Lady's sentinels, making his way toward Holly's talan.

Holly lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She was deep in thought about her upcoming trip to Imladris, and all of its implications, when she heard rapid footsteps come up the steps to her talan, and then a sharp rap on the door. Furrowing her brow, suspecting that it was well past dinner and nearing sunset, she got up from her bed, smoothed the skirts of her dress, and stepped out of the bedroom and into the living room to open the door.

There, in front of her, was Haldir, stern-faced and glowering at her. Holly raised her eyebrows at him in surprise, "Haldir...what a surprise?"

Haldir pushed the door open the remainder of the way and pushed his way inside, closing the door behind him. Holly crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him, "Now just what do you think you are-"

"I don't supposed you realized that I had better things to do than to escort you across Arda on a little adventure!" he exclaimed, shooting her a frigid look. Holly gaped at him,

"What? How on earth do you imagine that this is my idea?" she asked indignantly. Haldir paced around the room,

"Oh, you are telling me that you didn't request that I escort you on your trip to Imladris? I cannot conceive of any other reason why Lady Galadriel would pull me away from my duties, which are numerous, and far more important than escorting you on your holiday!" he spat, before sitting unceremoniously into one of the carved wooden chairs of her kitchen table. Holly walked over to him and sat across from him with her elbows on the table,

"Maybe you're not as important and pivotal and irreplaceable as you think you are!" Holly retorted with a snort of derision, "Besides, I never asked for you, I didn't know who would be escorting me. If I had thought it would be you, I might have put my foot down and said no."

Haldir laughed dryly, shooting her a grim smile, "Somehow I believe you."

Holly rolled her eyes, "You should, I'm not lying. I wasn't even sure I wanted to go."

"Well, we are both going now, and there is nothing to be done about it. You will go to Imladris, and I will be your minder." he answered with no small amount of annoyance. His eyebrows were knit together in frustration and Holly almost felt bad. It was her fault that he was being coerced into going with her...perhaps it wasn't too late to tell Lady Galadriel that she didn't want to go? Or request that another be chosen to escort her? Surely there were available wardens less crucial to the running of the city?

"I hardly need minding, Haldir. I am not a child." she said pathetically, hardly convincing herself of that fact, let alone him. He only looked up at her with one of those devious smirks and then continued to shoot glares at the wooden table under him. After a long, brooding moment, he stood slowly,

"You will need tomorrow to prepare. Lady Galadriel has requested that we attend an audience with her tomorrow to discuss the details. I will come collect you after the midday meal. We leave the following day at dawn." he said stiffly. Holly's eyes grew wide,

"So soon?" she asked. That did not leave them much time to prepare, and she imagined that this only added to Haldir's annoyance.

"Just be ready tomorrow." he said, before turning on his heel, leaving the talan and bounding down the stairs. Holly let out a loud sigh of frustration and kicked the wooden leg of the kitchen table. She winced in pain and hobbled over to the bed, throwing herself on the soft covers.

What did I just get myself into? What was Galadriel thinking?!

Across the city, in the largest, broadest mallorn of Lorien's golden forest, Lady Galadriel looked at her husband with a pleased expression – an expression he become very familiar with over the last few millenia. Yes, his wife was up to something.

A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and gave me their feedback! Don't be frustrated, this is Holly and Haldir's way. They're suffering from a severe lack of communication at the moment. Please tell me what you think :) I will try to update again this week if I can. xoxox