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That evening, Aria could not concentrate enough to focus her thoughts. She sat on her bed, twisting the silk sheets around in her fingers. The moon shone and the branches of the trees rustled through the window. She knew where Galadriel was now. She was testing the will of Frodo Baggins. For some reason, the faces of all the Fellowship now passed before her in succession, over and over again, not giving her rest. Finally, Aria got to her feet and walked to the window. She breathed in the night air, feeling the life among the trees. Then she frowned and looked down. Beneath the Mellyrn tree that was planted outside her window, lay Legolas, fast asleep, his long hand curled around one of the tendrils of the trunk. Aria smiled wistfully, then slipped on her shoes before slipping out the door into the cool night air.
The moonlight above her cast a silvery path on the grass beneath Aria's feet, giving her a path to wherever she wished to go. The moonlight barely broke through the branches of the Mellyrn tree, but what little light that did, its pieces shone delicately on Legolas' sleeping face. Aria cocked her head to look at him, then smiled, beginning to walk away. "You would leave without wishing me a good night?" Aria turned around once more to see Legolas now sitting at the base of the tree. Aria walked back and sat down on the forest floor beside him. "I couldn't help it. I thought you were asleep." She protested. Legolas smiled and leaned back against the tree. "You always did fall for that. Where are you off to this night? I thought you had gone to bed long ago." Legolas said, fingering the large Mellyrn blossom in his hand.
Aria sat back against the tree and sighed. "I couldn't sleep. Galadriel is testing Frodo this night. I worry for him and her." She said wistfully. Legolas nodded and lifted the flower to his nose to smell its enriching perfume. "They will be alright. Galadriel is a strong and brave lady, just as Frodo is strong and brave." He reassured her. "You know what will happen if she fails the test of the Ring don't you?" Aria continued. Legolas eyed her, then nodded. "Yes. She will be overtaken by it, then most everything will be lost. For the Elves that is." He murmured. "For all of Middle Earth, for the Ring's power will only spread. I only pray that this doesn't happen." Aria whispered. Legolas looked at Aria as she closed her eyes, her hands gripping the tree supportively. He saw in the way she moved and in her face, that there was nothing he could do or say to comfort her. This matter was out of his hands and Aria wouldn't be satisfied till she saw her sister alive and well for herself.
He did not suggest that they go to the place where the Mirror lay, but simply slipped the Mellyrn blossom in one of her outstretched hands. As she felt the pressure of the heavy blossom, Aria slowly opened her eyes and looked at it. She smiled, lifted it up to her nose and smelled. "I thank you friend." She whispered. Legolas nodded his thanks, then jumped to his feet. Aria did the same, looking at him questioningly. He put a finger to his lips then pointed in the direction of the camp of the Fellowship. In the clear moonlight, the Elves could see two figures, walking side by side till they reached the camp, Frodo Baggins and the Lady Galadriel. Before Frodo crept inside the camp, Galadriel bent down and gently kissed his wild curls. Frodo smiled wistfully, then crept into the darkness. Galadriel raised her head and saw the two Elves watching her closely from the shadow of the Mellyrn tree. Aria took a step forward, but Galadriel raised her hand. Galadriel then smiled and nodded in the direction of her sister before walking away from them, back to her own place.
Aria smiled, turning to Legolas. "She has passed the test. She has passed, as has Frodo." She said happily. "I am glad for your sake, and Frodo's." Legolas said, a smile crossing his face. Aria looked up into the Elf's face. "Are you going to sleep here all night? Or are you going to rejoin your companions?" She asked, her voice gaining a lilting tone. He smiled and leaned against the tree. "Not tonight I'm afraid. I don't wish to leave these forests, for they have many secrets to tell me in so little time." Aria laughed softly before placing her palm against the tree trunk. "You will give him my regards and blessing won't you?" Legolas bent down slightly to see Aria's face in the dim light. "I would rather die than not. For if I didn't, it would upset you. Then where would I be?" Aria lifted her head. "Out of my favor that is certain Legolas Greenleaf." She replied with a smile. Legolas shook his head and chuckled. "I am glad to once more be in your company. It has been so long since Rivendell." He commented.
Aria was silent before she spoke again. "It has been long and things are not the same as they once were." She said quietly. "Things have not changed. Only perhaps our physical appearance, but it is still the same." He said, tone confused. "No. When I left Rivendell you were a boy, we were both children. Now we are grown. You have grown into the man you always desired to be, but I, I have not lived up to my expectations." Legolas drew back slightly. "What do you mean?" Aria turned to him quickly, her eyes flashing. "I am not the same girl you found in the woods of Rivendell all those years ago! Then I had dreams, dreams of my kingdom of the greatness of my rule! All that has faded and been blown away into the past. Why is it that you have gained everything and I nothing?" She asked angrily. Legolas sighed, then gently, tentatively placed his hand over her palm. "Simply because you have not become what you thought you would become, does not mean that you did not live up to your expectations. Look at you. You have had a few years of ruling in Nethrana before you came here and in that time you were praised as one of the wisest and most kind ruler that the people had ever had. You desired that did you not?" He asked wisely.
"Yes but I also desired the ability to maintain my kingdom. I have not. I have been exiled by my own people because they didn't think me strong enough to overpower Sauron. They did not love me that much." Aria murmured, her anger still evident. "Then show them. Show them that you can fight for them." Legolas whispered. The fire in Aria's eyes gradually simmered down and died, then she looked to Legolas. "You are right. I have not really proved anything to them, and I can. I know I can. I, you must excuse me Legolas. I will see you on the morrow." Aria said quickly, as she rushed away. "What did I say?" He yelled after her. Aria quickly turned around and grinned as she ran. "Something that made sense!" She yelled, turning back and running towards her room and her home.
Aria burst into the place where she knew her sister would be. She had no doubt in her mind that her sister was as restless as she, and it was this place that was the most peaceful, for it was a garden of sorts, all different types of plants growing together. White doves flew above her, cooing gently, for there were no cages for these birds. They lived among the garden, a friend with the trees and the trees flourished. In the center, where rested a large, flowing fountain, sat Galadriel, her hand gently touching the water's surface, her eyes unfocused. Aria stopped, her footsteps dying out on the cobblestone walk. "You may proceed." Galadriel said softly from her place at the fountain. Aria proceeded quietly, her bare feet making no sound on the cobblestones now. She sat down at the edge of the marble fountain beside Galadriel and waited, for she knew that her sister would sense her purpose.
"You come to ask a favor of me. What is it?" Galadriel spoke quietly, her voice still commanding, but gentler than it had been earlier that evening. Aria took a deep breath before beginning. "I wish to lead the Fellowship to Mordor." She said quietly. Galadriel's head did not raise, but her hand ceased to make waves in the fountain, simply resting in the cool waters. "You do not know what you ask. The road to Mordor is filled with danger and peril." She replied after a time. "You are wrong. I do know what I ask. I know that it is perilous but I can make it. I can help them. They have only Aragorn now that Gandalf is gone, and Aragorn's memory is only slightly sketchy as to where to go. None of them have ever been to Mordor." Aria insisted. Galadriel's face came up, her eyes blazing with fire. "And I suppose that you have? You have only studied maps and guides, yet you know not the road you travel till you actually travel it! You know not the true way!" Galadriel said angrily, her voice regaining it's commanding tone.
"I must do this Galadriel! For my people, to prove that I am an able ruler who can protect them!" Aria said, jumping to her feet. Galadriel slowly stood, her hands clenched, her lips set. "You would do this by endangering yourself, setting out on a mysterious road filled with peril and dangers far above your powers?" Galadriel asked. "I would do this!" Aria spat out. Galadriel did not speak, merely stared at Aria's angry and determined face. "The road to Mordor is long and Sauron's eye is always upon you. He watches, he keeps his Ring Wraiths ready and prepared to strike as well as his servants the Orcs. With the great Saruman now on his side, the perils rise. You know this?" Galadriel asked, her tone now quiet, but the embers in her eyes still red hot. Aria set her teeth and nodded. "I know all this to be true." She whispered. Galadriel stared at her before sitting down on the fountain, her eyes never leaving Aria's face.
"I feel that you do this not only for your people, but for others. The hobbit, your friend Legolas, Aragorn?" Galadriel said cleverly. Aria closed her eyes and breathed deep. "Yes, I do it for them. They have no guide. I can help them Galadriel. I can. I can guide them to Mordor." She said urgently, seating herself back on the fountain beside her sister. Galadriel finally took her gaze away from Aria's face and stared off into the distance. "Are you so unhappy that you would go into the shadows of Mordor to get away from this place?" Galadriel asked softly. "It is not that. I feel that I must do it for myself. You must understand me." Aria pleaded quietly. "I do not understand, but I would give you what you would desire." Aria barely heard or understood her sister's soft voice, but when it finally sank in, she drew back in surprise.
"You would truly let me go?" She whispered hopefully. Galadriel drew back sharply. "It is nothing to me if you wish to endanger yourself by traveling this road. It is your decision, not mine." Galadriel then fixed her blue eyes on her sister's face. "It is your fate now. You are not in my hands any longer. I give you leave to do what you wish." She stood up slowly, and as she did, Aria noticed a tired look spread over her sister's features. Aria stood and clasped her sister's hands. "I thank you sister. I will not let you down." She said, squeezing Galadriel's long fingers. Galadriel showed no emotion, save a small smile in the corner of her mouth as she placed a finger on her sister's cheek. "Go and be safe, for I have you surrounded in my mantle." She whispered before lifting her finger and walking away silently. Aria stood alone in the garden for a moment more before realizing that she would be leaving this place of beauty, for perhaps forever.
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