Chapter Three: Foreshadows in the Mirror
By Ellwyn J
Legolas bowed his head under the Lady Galadriel's gaze. He had gotten to Lorien several hours after Durwyn and Arod had come to ask the Lady of her aid. Throughout the journey, he spoke and sang to the limp form of the half-elven girl. She had been long unconscious, but nevertheless, he persisted. Finally, after what seemed like a thousand years, he reached Lorien. Tired and in need of rest, he sleepily made sure that Ellwyn was taken immediately into the High Elves' care. The last thing he saw before he fell into a light and restless slumber was an ancient elf carefully lowering Ellwyn's body into a pool of crystalline blue water. He had awoken and found his way through the silver city to a glowing altar, where he found the Lady.
"Son of Thranduil, you have brought a strange companion with you indeed." The Lady spoke, her voice flowing over him in waves soothingly yet with a great strength.
"I am in your debt, Lady, for you have done me a great favor in times of need…" he began, but she silenced him with a wave of her hand.
"Legolas, there in no need to thank us. We receive our Elven kindred with welcome arms. But this girl…she is of Elven descent, yes, but there is an inherent evil that I sense in her."
Legolas nodded, then spoke quietly, "I, too, have felt it. But I do not suspect her of any evil."
At this, the Lady smiled in agreement and motioned to one of the gleaming towers above them. "She is almost recovered. The healing waters of Lorien have cured her of the poison in her blood; she needs only rest now, to heal the wound. Perhaps you will go to her to comfort her if she awakens, for she might be frightened to awaken here."
Legolas practically set off at a sprint, but at a mirthful smile from Galadriel, he bowed his thanks and left the altar.
* * * * *
He reached the tower and quietly sat on the edge of the bed where the girl was resting, breathing calmly. She was pale now and her dark clothing had been replaced with a silver-white gown, which only emphasized the lack of color in her face further. Legolas was again left to wonder who she really was and what she sought in Mordor. He shuddered at the thought of having to travel so near to the black lands, but reminded himself quickly that he had thrown himself into this. He watched her sleeping peacefully for a few moments, contemplating her strange character. Just when he was about to stand, she stirred and her eyes opened suddenly, then flinched at the whiteness of the place.
Legolas smiled and said quietly, "Broniannen lin ennin."
Ellwyn slowly brought herself back to her senses. She couldn't remember anything beyond a band of Orcs attacking the camp… And here she was, lying in an unfamiliar, extremely beautiful place, with Legolas saying something incomprehensible. She shook her head and sat up, looking at him questioningly.
"I have lived many years," he translated at her confused expression. "One thousand, four hundred, and thirty-eight, to be exact." He smiled at her.
Ellwyn opened her mouth in shock, but all she could utter was a strange choking sound. Her throat was unbelievably dry. Legolas handed her the flask of water on the table nearby, and she choked even more as she drank thirstily. "What?" she managed to gasp out finally.
"You asked me, the last time we spoke, how many years I had seen."
"Oh…" she trailed off, looking quite puzzled.
"And you?" Legolas asked, trying to keep her mind off the dark journey ahead of them.
She paused before answering. "I did not inherit my mother's immortality," she said reluctantly, "I have seen only seventeen years." Ellwyn looked down at her hands in her lap, feeling suddenly very small.
"You are a pen neth, or in the common tongue, a young one. I used to think the pin nith did not know the ways of beauty and truth. Yet you have proved me wrong, for you nearly sacrificed your own life for mine. Why did you do that?"
Ellwyn shook her head and stared at her hands again. "I do not know. I barely remember anything." Then she continued, "Perhaps I felt your life was more valuable than mine. You are the son of a King, and I am only half elf, a daughter with the stained blood of a traitor to his own people and to yours, also. I cannot explain it."
Legolas wanted to press her for more of her past, but he knew her mind was in no condition to relive the pain flickering in her eyes. He merely took her cold hand in his and whispered, "If you ever think again that you are less worthy to live than any other, you are seriously mistaken."
She smiled suddenly, her face brightening. But something in the back of her mind wondered, why is he suddenly so kind to me? I saved his life, yes, but I could have sworn there was something that made him show fear or hatred toward me. A feeling that strong could never be erased. "Where am I?" she asked, suddenly looking around.
"Lothlorien," he replied, "the realm of the High Elves. They helped to heal you."
"I have heard of this place," she said. "Will you take me to the Lady Galadriel? I need to thank her…and there are other things I must know."
Legolas nodded, though reluctant to interrupt her rest, and led her down the winding staircases to the altar. She looked fearful suddenly, and more pale, but he gave her a look of reassurance, and she stepped up to the altar where the Lady was waiting.
* * * * *
The Lady was standing, her eyes closed and her hands folded in silent prayer. She looked up to see Ellwyn standing before her quite timidly, then stood without a word and began to walk down a staircase that led to a garden. Ellwyn looked after her for a few moments and turned back to Legolas. He mouthed the words, "Follow her," and walked away. She stepped nimbly down the staircase after Galadriel, watching how the Lady moved so fluidly, always encased in a white light.
Finally, Galadriel stopped in a small alcove where there was a large rock shaped like a bowl. The Lady walked over to a silver pitcher, then filled it with the clear water that was running down into a pool. She gracefully poured the water into the pool and waited for the water to settle. Then, with a calm yet commanding voice, said, "Daughter of elf and man, look into the mirror."
Ellwyn could not help but step up to the water. Something was irresistibly drawing her to it, and she leaned over the edge, staring into the water. At first, there was nothing. She looked up, suddenly and fearfully at the Lady. "What will I see?"
"Things that have come and gone, things that are, and some things you will find that have not yet come to pass." Galadriel was watching her intently, like a falcon spying its prey.
Ellwyn bent back over the pool of water and held her breath while the water began to ripple on its own. The waves became bigger, and then smoothed suddenly. An image of her home at the Long Lake appeared. A small girl ran from the house and straight into the water until it reached to her knees. She was weeping and screaming, "Father! Father, where are you? Come back!" Then the image faded away into the ripples again. Ellwyn squinted, seeing a figure of a back turned to her. The figure was wearing a greenish gray cloak and had silky blonde hair. It turned, and she was able to see his face. "Legolas," she whispered. He turned and looked at her, a desperate look written on his face. He was saying her name, calling to her, but Ellwyn could hear nothing. He fell to his knees and covered his face with his hands. Then his image faded, also. Ellwyn stared harder into the glassy water. Then she gasped and her eyes widened.
She could see a man's face. The man appeared old; his face was lined with age and he looked tired, but there was a loving kindness in his eyes. He smiled at her and she smiled back through tears. "Father…" she whispered, as if he could hear her. But the image twisted suddenly, and his face darkened. His dark black eyes like hers were suddenly glowing white and his mouth formed a twisted grin. Ellwyn cried out and tore her gaze from the frightening image. Something in her forced her to look back, after a moment.
She saw her father, the kindness restored to his eyes, falling into the depths of darkness. Then her own self appeared at the top of the chasm, reaching out to him hopelessly. Her image suddenly convulsed and threw itself down after her father. Ellwyn felt herself drawn into the darkness, falling, falling endlessly. She was screaming, and the darkness had almost enveloped her completely. Ellwyn shut her eyes with as much might as she could muster, and threw herself away from the mirror. She lay on the ground, gasping for air, then stared up at the Lady with wondering eyes. Galadriel was still watching her, but looked astonished now.
"What…what was that?" Ellwyn said breathlessly.
The Lady was silent for a few moments. "You have seen what would happen if your father were to be killed."
"What?" she cried.
Galadriel paused and looked straight into her eyes. Her gaze made Ellwyn feel a chill run down her spine. "Do you want to hear the truth?"
"Yes," Ellwyn said with a certainty that even surprised herself.
"Your father was on a journey near the black lands when he was captured by Orcs. He begged and pleaded for them to spare his life, for he had no courage to let himself be slain. They brought him to Sauron, who must have believed it useful to have servants that could travel freely in the world, unlike the Orcs. In order to ensure your father's loyalty, the dark lord must have taken his soul. Your father captured his wife in the raid of Mirkwood, so many years ago, and brought her to Sauron. Sauron drained Thuwen of her soul and poured it into your father's body… So your father cannot be slain. He possesses the immortality of the elves."
She continued, after a pause, "I have known this for some time, but now that I have seen what the mirror showed you, I am aware of a weakness. For in all perfection there is always a flaw. He can be slain by anyone who carries his blood."
Ellwyn stared at her. "But why did the mirror show me falling with him?"
"Sauron owns his soul, and the souls of those who have the same blood as him. Thus you, like your father, have also the blood of Sauron's servants. You will be killed by the ties of blood when your father is slain." Galadriel spoke the last sentence quietly, watching the young girl. To her surprise, the girl did not falter or try to abandon her journey. The daughter of both races bowed her head and closed her eyes, as if accepting her fate. Galadriel thought, The girl is giving up on life. The son of Thranduil must keep his distance, for he will be in grave danger if he strays too close to one who has so hopelessly thrown away her life to a hopelessly dark fate.
Ellwyn backed away, not knowing what to say, then disappeared into the winding staircase again. An elf turned his gaze in alarm and watched her descend from the city. She suddenly looked up and met his gaze briefly, then disappeared again. Legolas knew he had seen a flicker of pain in her eyes. He leapt from the bridge lightly and ran to the alcove where Galadriel was standing.
"Where does she go?" he asked almost desperately.
"To her father."
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All names, places, or plot/history affiliated with LOTR are entitled to J.R.R. Tolkien. The rest is from my imagination. If there are any errors in the history/land/names of anything related to Tolkien's works, please inform me.
