Same A/N as last time. The poem was in the soundtrack. New chapters will take a while now, because I have to start reading the second book, but I read fast so just sit tight.
~Chapter Seven
The images from the mirror floated through my head that night, replaying themselves in broken bits. Their order scrambled and the pictures blurred together, placing Legolas in with the woman in the white dress- for I had decided that it was indeed a woman there. The image of the Eye of Sauron was burned into the back of my brain and whenever the images replayed themselves; the Eye was behind them, ever watching.
I woke the next morning to the sound of rain tapping lightly on the window. The niphredil outside drooped their pale heads, rain dripping off the petals and the green leaves. A wilted flower hung out of its pot and I stepped outside quickly to clip it. The dead flower laid in my hand for a moment before I tipped it over the balcony's edge. It floated lifelessly down to the ground, forced by the falling rain and swept away by the wind. It lay in a puddle on the muddy ground. A cool breeze came, blowing my hair slightly over my shoulder. The ends of the strands drew strange patterns over my dress, leaving a wet trail behind them. I stepped inside before I became completely soaked.
A maid-Elf brought me a thick slab of bread and I ate it slowly, watching the rain drip off my window and from the petals. It fell in a curtain from the sky, a sheet of glass.
"Your mother wishes you presence, Princess," the maid murmured. I nodded as she stepped into the shadows. A nervous feeling stirred in my heart, sending butterflies to my stomach. Suddenly the rich bread was dry and tasteless in my mouth and I swallowed it slowly, stalling the inevitable meeting with Galadriel. But soon the bread was gone and I could not dawdle longer. I stood and smoothed my dress, hurrying across a bridge to a nearby tree. My mother's tree was surrounded with a shroud of quietness and seriousness, and I felt that I had to slow my footsteps as I crossed over the bridge towards it. I swallowed the lump in my throat and pushed aside the vine curtain.
My mother sat inside. She turned towards me as I stepped inside, the white leaves of the vines swinging closed behind me. The rain beat on the roof like goblin drums, matching the pace of my heart. Galadriel's gaze betrayed nothing as she motioned for me to sit down with a wave of her white hand.
"Niphredil," she began. "We must discuss yesterday." I nodded, bracing myself for anything she would throw at me. "Niphredil," she said again, "I don't believe that you slept with the Mirkwood Prince, Legolas, yesterday. But you must see how it looks to your father- you run off with a stranger, a Prince, no less, and then you come back the next day, together? Why had you not consulted the stars? The beings above keep little secret, and if you know where to look the celestial beings will tell you. Celeborn taught you many years ago of the stars, Niphredil. I knew that there was going to be a storm just by looking at the sky. You should have known. This incriminates you, Niphredil, you see?"
"Yes, I know," I said between a sigh. "Why don't you show Father in the Mirror?"
Mother smiled slightly, shaking her head. "You cannot choose what the Mirror betrays," she said. "No one can control it." I stood to leave, smoothing my dress behind me, and pushed away the vines.
"Mornie utúlië," Galadriel said. "Hlasta. Caled veleg, etuiannen…nuithannen. From the darkness you will understand the light, Niphredil. Mind my words."
I walked back across the bridge slowly, Galadriel's words running through my mind. Darkness has come…listen. A great light has gone out…darkness. From the darkness you will understand the light. The last line was from an ancient poem, entitled Aníron…I desire. I bit my lip as I made my way down the stairs, pondering this.
The rain had stopped by the time I came down the tree and I walked over to the river's swollen banks. I noticed that three boats were propped up on the shore…and the Halflings were sitting inside! I ran over to them. "You aren't leaving?" I asked the One, the Ringbearer. Frodo nodded silently. In another life I would have noticed that in his tiny hand he held the Light of Eärendil. "Where is Legolas?" I asked. I sensed a presence by my arm and I whirled around, expecting to see the Prince of Mirkwood standing there, but instead it was one of the Men, Aragorn.
"Legolas went that way," the Man said, pointing. I ran in that direction and soon came upon him.
"Legolas!" I said, placing my hand on his arm. "You cannot leave, it's too soon."
"Time is a luxury we do not have," Legolas said, a sad smile on his face. I reached up to brush a strand of hair behind his ear; it seemed a most natural thing to do. Legolas took my hand and held it in front of his face, kissing it lightly as any common suitor would do. A tear slipped down my cheek and I hurried to brush it away. "It's all right, Niphredil," Legolas said. "I will be back."
Then he swept me up in a kiss. Sparks as bright as the Evening Star exploded in front of my eyes as he held my waist. His silken hair brushed my hands as I placed them on his neck.
"Be back soon," I whispered.
"I will," he said, turning away and hurrying back into the woods. I became aware of a small scrap of paper in my hand. I unfolded it and read it quickly. It was another old poem, called In Dreams.
When the cold of winter comes
Starless night will cover day
In the veiling of the sun
We will walk in bitter rain
But in dreams
I still hear your name
And in dreams
We will meet again
When the seas and mountains fall
And we come to end of days
In the dark I hear a call
Calling me there
I will go there
And back again
I wiped away more tears as I ran through the woods, the wind roaring in my ears. The boats were already out on the water. The sun cast dancing patterns of blinding light across the river. I saw Legolas in one of the boats, rowing away from the shores. I stood next to my mother, who was waving to them, biting my lip and trying to stop the tears from falling.
"Brave souls," Galadriel murmured. "You would least suspect it- a Hobbit, going into Mordor."
"Do you think they will be safe?" I asked, my voice shaking.
Galadriel looked down at me. I met her gaze. She already knew.
"Not all of them will return," she said. "That is all I have seen." My gaze returned to the sparkling water, to Legolas gradually growing smaller in the distance. I raised my hand in a wave and watched him disappear completely.