Thank you again for all of the reviews and support that you have given me, and please tell me if this is confusing you, because I am following the book more closely than the movie. This chapter will be the longest one I have written so far so be prepared. Any support or suggestions are welcomed, but any flames will be used to warm my frozen fingers, and to heat food.
Chapter 4. The Grey Lady
Aníron pulled back slowly from the kiss, never taking her eyes off of Legolas, both of their eyes shining like stars. She turned looked into the distance and saw Caras Galadhon standing in the distance like many green towers grouped together. Legolas watched her and looked out at the great city. 'It is long since I have been in the city,' she said still gazing at the vast stretch of green, 'and I have longed to go back, but now that I have the chance to return, I am not so sure of myself.'
Aníron pulled her hood back over her head and walked down the mound with Legolas following closely behind. 'I cannot help but feel that you are hiding something from me,' he called at her retreating back, 'please, Aníron, surely you can tell me anything.' She stopped, allowing Legolas to catch up with her. 'I cannot tell you now, for you will find out soon enough,' she said softly, touching his face. 'Come, or else the company will leave without us.'
They caught up with the rest of the company, which now only consisted of the fellowship, Haldir, and Aníron, for the other elves had gone back to the border guard. Haldir lead them on through the wood, and though Legolas tried to immerse Aníron in conversation, he often could not, for Haldir kept a closer watch on the remaining elf of his patrol.
When the company at last reached the northern border of Caras Galadhon, Aníron knew that unless she did not want to be discovered, she must leave the company and enter the city in a different way. She turned to Haldir who was walking on her right 'I must leave the company now, so that I may see my family, who live near the stables here,' she lied. In truth, she was going to the stables to fetch her horse, Celebfindel, who she would ride into the city. She walked by the rest of the company, giving them her best wishes and stopped in front of Legolas.
'Namárië, Legolas,' Aníron whispered, 'may our paths cross again.' He replied simply, 'Namárië' and she fled, running on feet made fleet by lack of time.
Legolas watched her go until she disappeared into the trees as he had done no more then two days before. He could not believe that she had left, he knew she had not gone to her family, but he wondered where she had gone, and if he would ever see her again. These thoughts ran through his head as the company walked under the light of the stars towards the southern gate of the great city.
Aníron reached the stables a few minutes later. To her great luck they were empty of all other elves so that she could walk freely in them. She found Celebfindel and was greeted by a soft whinny as she walked into the loft that housed her faithful horse. She took out her riding clothing, which was silver-grey with a silver mantle to show her position. She changed quickly and laced up her boots, placing the mantle on her head last of all, allowing her star-bright hair to flow freely down her back. Aníron led Celebfindel out of the stable and quickly mounted, willing him to run as fast as he could towards the southern gate, praying that she would reach it before the fellowship.
As she rode, Aníron heard calls that announced her arrival to the city and as she reached the gate, she dismounted and was greeted by the gate wardens. 'Welcome back to Caras Galadhon, my lady,' one of the wardens called, bowing to her. 'Have you seen a company led by Haldir enter the city?' she asked quickly. He responded, 'Nay, the only one who has crossed these gates, is you.' She thanked him and remounted Celebfindel, this time riding more slowly through the trees. She could hear cries of, 'The Grey Lady has returned' all through the city until she reached the court of Celeborn and Galadriel, Lord and Lady of Lothlórien. Aníron dismounted and climbed the stairway up to the talan where the Lord and Lady sat.
When she reached the talan at last she bowed in front of Galadriel's chair, and Galadriel responded, 'So, you have at last returned Aníron, the grey Lady of Lórien.
The fellowship reached the gates just five minutes after Aníron had passed them, and cries of 'The Grey Lady has returned' could still be heard in the distance. Frodo wondered aloud to Haldir, 'Who is the Grey Lady?' And Haldir replied 'The Grey Lady is the fairest of all elven maidens in Lothlórien. She wears only silver-grey and is second in command to the White Lady, Galadriel. She travels often, and has not been seen in Caras Galadhon for many months.' Aragorn now spoke up, 'I remember the first time I came into fair Lórien many years ago and first beheld Galadriel and her court. There was a lady clad all in silver-grey seated at her left-hand side. She had long pale hair, milky white skin, and golden-green eyes, like a mellyrn leaf.'
Legolas started at this description. He was positive that Aragorn had just described Aníron in perfect detail, but he could not yet be sure. Aníron had not mentioned her mother to him, or where she now dwelt, but still, it sounded so much like her he could not help but be suspicious. 'What was the lady's name, Aragorn?' he asked trying to sound like he was asking out of curiosity, but finding it hard not to sound like his whole life depended on the name of this lady. Aragorn replied with a sigh, 'Alas, I do not know her name, for everyone only addressed her as the Grey Lady.'
Legolas sighed and fell silent once more as they walked under the massive mellyrn, which towered higher then any other trees in the forest. At last they reached the stairway to the Lord and Lady's court, and Legolas with Frodo were bidden to go first, followed by the rest of the fellowship in whichever order they would choose. As Legolas stepped up on to the platform, he gazed around the room. A radiance filled the room with a pale light, not unlike starlight and noble elves sat around the room. By the bole of the Galadriel and Celeborn sat side by side, and standing next to Galadriel was...
'Aníron?!' Legolas gasped in surprise, almost too shocked to breathe. How could this be? Aníron was not supposed to be a great lady in the courts of Lórien. She was supposed to be the renegade daughter of a noble elf, who wanted to revenge her brother's death, and yet, somehow, it all made sense. Her otherworldly beauty, even for an elf, made her look a queen. She was intelligent, courageous, and yet fragile as blown glass.
The Lord Celeborn began to speak, yet Legolas did not hear him, so enraptured was he with the lady clothed in silver-grey. The rest of the fellowship was now standing in the hall, but none recognized Aníron, for they had never seen her before without her cloak. The rest of the company spoke with the Lord of their quest before they reached Lórien. Legolas made comments seldom, mainly when the fall of Gandalf arose in discussion, but he fell silent again, gazing at the lady who was Aníron.
Aníron could feel Legolas' eyes upon her, but she did not make eye contact with him, for she knew that Galadriel could already feel the tension between Legolas and Aníron, even though not a word had been said from one to the other. She finally made eye contact with him after Celeborn was speaking with Aragorn about Gandalf. The result was an instant smile upon Legolas' face that brought a smile to Aníron's lips as well. Galadriel's voice echoed in her head almost immediately after Legolas smiled at her. 'Aníron, it looks as though you have made quite a good friend in your journey, I would much like to hear how you met the son of Thranduil,' came Galadriel's voice. Aníron simply smiled once again at Legolas.
The smile he received from Aníron was an instant reassurance that it was still the same elf that he had met by the riverbank, and he could not help but smile. Galadriel was now looking at each of the members of the fellowship, but did not hold many in her gaze for long, for they looked down to escape the lady's gaze. When she came to Legolas, he met her eyes with determination, but nearly broke eye contact when her voice came into his head.
'Do not be afraid son of Thranduil, for I know what you want most and can offer it to you if you wish for it.' Galadriel's voice whispered in his mind. Legolas' thoughts went to Aníron instantly and heard laughter in his mind. 'Yes, I can offer whatever you want most in the world, but will you take it I wonder?' Galadriel's voice echoed once more, and her thought was turned to Gimli who stood next to Legolas.
After the questioning was finished, the fellowship was escorted to a separate talan where they would be sleeping. Legolas slipped out of their midst to look at the stars, but then found another meaning to go and started off towards the great hall where they had been questioned earlier.
As he walked Legolas found himself thinking of the offer which Galadriel had given him earlier, could she really give him whatever he wanted, or was this an attempt to make him falter from the path that Elrond had assigned him to follow. He pondered on this for quite some time until a familiar voice called his name.
'Legolas,' Aníron called softly again, standing on a balcony above him, her hair shining in the moonlight. He ran noiselessly up the steps to the balcony overlooking a small spring. She waited for him and looked at him when he reached the balcony. He was wearing embroidered silks of pearl-white and green, which were given to him by an elf who had said it was a gift from the Lord and Lady. His hair hung down to his shoulders and his blue eyes glistened as he saw her. She was wearing a silk gown of silver-gray, embroidered with white stones like diamonds. Her hair flowed in smooth waves to her waist and a mantle made from silver with a single crystal adorned her head.
'You are beautiful, my lady,' he breathed in awe. 'Why did you not tell me you were a lady of the court?' he asked, looking into her eyes, and moving slowly closer. 'I was afraid that you would judge me, and deem my presence at the border unsafe. I also wanted you to see the real me, not the Grey Lady, for many only see me as she, quiet and well mannered.' Aníron whispered to Legolas, who now stood only inches from her. He placed his hand on her shoulder and she turned to face him, with golden-green eyes that shone like stars in his presence.
'I would never judge you depending on your status,' Legolas murmured in her ear, 'For I love you more then life it's self.' He started to say more, but Aníron stopped him. 'Don't speak,' she whispered and she kissed him. He returned the kiss and they stood together on the balcony with the moonlight shining in their hair.