CONTENT WARNING for Chapter 2: Rated M for strong language.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything created by Tolkein and Middle-Earth. This is for entertainment only.

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Seasons Greetings & Gravity Checks

** 28 Years Later **

Winter Solstice - Lothlorien

"Amarth faeg (Evil Fate)!" Galadriel cried as she pulled herself from the basin.

The Lady of Light stood alone in the clearing; her breathing rapid and tears running down her pale cheeks.

Celeborn … I need you. Come to the clearing. She sent her pleading thoughts to her husband; hoping he would arrive with haste.

As she waited for him to arrive she paced the length of the clearing. She had been enjoying the Equinox celebration when she had felt it first. A deep-rooted sense of foreboding. She had quickly gone to the Mirror and now she wished she had checked up on them sooner.

Arms wrapped around her and she felt the protective embrace of her husband.

"What have you seen, my Lady?" Galadriel turned to see Gandalf standing at the edge of the clearing a look of concern on his face.

"I believe the time is upon us, Mellon (friend)." Galadriel gave him a pointed look. "They will arrive before the Summer solstice."

Celeborn pulled away and looked at her, "How can you be sure?"

Galadriel straightened again as she looked to both men, "Even now they plan the trip without knowing the true destination. Mithrandir…" She looked to the aged wizard, "I don't know how, but it would seem the darkness has followed them to this other realm. We will need to prepare."

Gandalf's eyes widened at the implication of such a thing but he nodded his head in silent agreement. "No dirweg, hiril vuin (Be Careful, Beloved Lady)." Gandalf and Celeborn nodded to each other with reverence and the wizard left.

Celeborn pressed a tender kiss on her forehead before leaving her to her thoughts. He knew better than to press her for the information she does not offer willingly. Galadriel began walking towards her Mirror once more, "May the Valar protect you until you return, dear ones."


Spring Equinox - Crescent City, CA

"FUCK!"

The pot crashed to the floor and the soil spilled out across the greenhouse floor.

Aurora stomped down the remaining steps of the ladder cursing herself under her breath. This day had not gone her way at all and things were just getting worse. Luckily; there were only two hours left until the store closed down for the weekend and she could spend her time in the mountains with Egg. Doing spring inventory was her least favorite task around the shop, but considering Augustus had no sense of organization; the task fell to her.

As she continued her internal reprimand, Aurora grabbed a broom and dustpan to begin cleaning up the fragments of the shattered pot. After she finished collecting the shattered pieces; she returned to sweeping up the remaining soil on the ground.

"Do you need any help, my dear?"

Aurora practically threw the dustpan of dirt through a window. She quickly turned around her hand across her chest making sure her heart was still beating. There was a woman in the doorway of the greenhouse.

"I appreciate it, but I am okay. Just…. Decided to do a gravity check with one of the potted plants." Aurora threw the remaining dirt and flower pieces into the trash can,

"My apologies, are you okay?" The woman had moved closer to Aurora without her hearing.

"Oh," Aurora took a step back, "I'm okay. They were just Dianthus flowers; so not exactly a loss to the flower community." Aurora laughed at her joke and looked at the woman who was staring back with a confused look. "Unless… You like Dianthus. In which case they are a beautiful choice and -"

"No need to worry, child." The woman smiled. "I was wondering if you could help me pick out some flowers for my garden."

"Absolutely!" Aurora lit up, she loved helping others pick out new flowers. "Were you looking for anything in particular?" The woman quietly shook her head. "Okay, well… I can show you some of my favorites and we can go from there."
Aurora and the woman looked at flowers for the better part of 45 minutes. At the end of their time; Aurora had helped the woman pick out several of her personal favorites of Sunflowers, Babys Breath and several colors of roses. After that, the two talked and made their way back to the front part of the store.

As Aurora finished ringing up the order; the woman smiled and asked, "I would imagine you are busy with it being the Spring Equinox tomorrow."

Aurora put the seeds into a bag and handed it over to her, "It can vary. Next season is typically our busiest. Summer is always a nightmare for us. But, my brother and I always close up the shop for each Equinox and Solstice. Old family tradition."

"Family traditions are a true gift." The woman walked over to the door but stopped as she rested her hand on the door. "La fael, Aurora."

Before Aurora had a chance to ask the woman what language she spoke, she had left and Aurora stood there with slight confusion. How did the woman know her name? Had she mentioned it without realizing it?

"Hey loser," Augustus had walked in from the parking lot and locked the front door, "You finally ready to get the fuck out of here? I have the lavender lemonade in a cooler in the car."

Aurora closed up the till and turned off the remaining lights, "Sounds good. We just need to stop by the stable to pick up dumb & dumber."

Augustus chuckled as he held the back door open for her, "You know... For owning a $75,000 dressage horse; you would think you would call him something other than Dumber."

Aurora walked out the door without looking at him, "My horse is Dumb; yours is Dumber. Besides, I call you a lot worse than that and I still love you."


She walked through the cave entrance as the sun was beginning to set.

"Were you successful, my Lady?" He spoke from atop a striking white horse as she strode over and climbed onto her horse.

"I was," She smiled to herself, "I thank you, Mithrandir. Sadly darkness has touched them, but the light is still strong within them. They will need additional protections upon their arrival."

The two rode their horses down the mountainside towards Rivendell; Lady Galadriel holding a small bag of seeds in her hand.


A/N: Introductions to our main duo! Let's find out more shall we?
XOXO - P