Chapter Twelve - Galadriel
The lady looked into her mirror, and saw the death of her royal guard. A tear fell and circles ringed the drop in the water.
"rest in peace Haldir of Lorien". She murmured.
"do you really wish it lady?" Galadriel looked up away from the mirror, for a moment she could not see who had murmured those words to her, thinking it was her guilt she was about to look back down when movement caught her eye. She stood up straighter.
A raven haired maiden stepped forward.
"no guard remains to stop my entry in to Lorien Lady, the army is still in Helm's Deep". The maiden told her.
"I cannot see your thoughts".
"nor would you want to Lady, for they are dark with pain and grief". Was the answer. Galadriel frowned.
"and why would I not want to maiden?, I have seen many things in my lifetime".
"because it would feed your guilt".
"what is your name maiden?" Galadriel asked.
"you do not remember me?, I am Isilme, I once resided here in Lorien, when I was young".
"Gil-Galad's daughter, queen of gondor".
"queen of gondor no longer, I have given her to her king". Isilme told her walking closer. Then she opened her mind and Galadriel gasped as she was flooded with images of the war, of her army, most of the elves had been killed or wounded, and would retreat to the gray havens to live their lives as per their history.
And then it came, Haldir.
"you should not have ordered them to war Lady, it was not in their path".
"were we to leave middle earth and not assist the mortals in their fight against the darkness?"
"and will you come every time there is a darkness to be fought?, Haldir was not meant to die in this war, but he died for you lady, were you so selfish that you did not want him to live his life with me?". Isilme asked.
Galadriel thought for a moment. "he served Lorien well, and it was his choice, it was a part of his duty to do so, if indeed you were in his heart he would of said no".
"no elf would say no to you Galadriel, if you were to send them to war, you should have led them yourself, where was the lord?, watching the war from here?, he should have led them also!, what you did, is despicable, no queen would conduct herself this way for her people, you have grown lazy in your power Galadriel, but your reign has ended, you are to retreat to the gray havens and live there the rest of your days".
"hate clouds your mind maiden".
"no pain clouds my mind, I loved Haldir, and I did not and still do not understand his departure, he always gave so much and yet nothing was ever given to him".
"he was given you, I read his mind, you were the centerpiece of the light in his being, let your heart remember that, and do not judge me so unfairly".
"I judge you with the right of the noldorian queen, for that is my rightful heirloom that my father left me, I am not below you lady, I speak my mind".
"as your father once did, is this the last time I will see you Isilme?"
"I do not know, I will travel to the gray havens also, I am weary of battle, and legolas wishes to see the sea, we travel together".
Silence.
So Isilme offered a peace token. "Aa' menle nauva calen ar' ta hwesta e' ale'quenle" May thy paths be green and the breeze on thy back. She softly told the lady.
Galadriel was surprised. This maiden was offering her a hand of peace when she had spoken to her so vehemently.
"Lissenen ar' maska'lalaith tenna' lye omentuva" Sweet water and light laughter till next we meet. Galadriel replied to her.
With that Isilme turned and the darkness beyond the Lorien orbs of light absorbed her and she was no more within the lady's sight.
The lady looked into her mirror, and saw the death of her royal guard. A tear fell and circles ringed the drop in the water.
"rest in peace Haldir of Lorien". She murmured.
"do you really wish it lady?" Galadriel looked up away from the mirror, for a moment she could not see who had murmured those words to her, thinking it was her guilt she was about to look back down when movement caught her eye. She stood up straighter.
A raven haired maiden stepped forward.
"no guard remains to stop my entry in to Lorien Lady, the army is still in Helm's Deep". The maiden told her.
"I cannot see your thoughts".
"nor would you want to Lady, for they are dark with pain and grief". Was the answer. Galadriel frowned.
"and why would I not want to maiden?, I have seen many things in my lifetime".
"because it would feed your guilt".
"what is your name maiden?" Galadriel asked.
"you do not remember me?, I am Isilme, I once resided here in Lorien, when I was young".
"Gil-Galad's daughter, queen of gondor".
"queen of gondor no longer, I have given her to her king". Isilme told her walking closer. Then she opened her mind and Galadriel gasped as she was flooded with images of the war, of her army, most of the elves had been killed or wounded, and would retreat to the gray havens to live their lives as per their history.
And then it came, Haldir.
"you should not have ordered them to war Lady, it was not in their path".
"were we to leave middle earth and not assist the mortals in their fight against the darkness?"
"and will you come every time there is a darkness to be fought?, Haldir was not meant to die in this war, but he died for you lady, were you so selfish that you did not want him to live his life with me?". Isilme asked.
Galadriel thought for a moment. "he served Lorien well, and it was his choice, it was a part of his duty to do so, if indeed you were in his heart he would of said no".
"no elf would say no to you Galadriel, if you were to send them to war, you should have led them yourself, where was the lord?, watching the war from here?, he should have led them also!, what you did, is despicable, no queen would conduct herself this way for her people, you have grown lazy in your power Galadriel, but your reign has ended, you are to retreat to the gray havens and live there the rest of your days".
"hate clouds your mind maiden".
"no pain clouds my mind, I loved Haldir, and I did not and still do not understand his departure, he always gave so much and yet nothing was ever given to him".
"he was given you, I read his mind, you were the centerpiece of the light in his being, let your heart remember that, and do not judge me so unfairly".
"I judge you with the right of the noldorian queen, for that is my rightful heirloom that my father left me, I am not below you lady, I speak my mind".
"as your father once did, is this the last time I will see you Isilme?"
"I do not know, I will travel to the gray havens also, I am weary of battle, and legolas wishes to see the sea, we travel together".
Silence.
So Isilme offered a peace token. "Aa' menle nauva calen ar' ta hwesta e' ale'quenle" May thy paths be green and the breeze on thy back. She softly told the lady.
Galadriel was surprised. This maiden was offering her a hand of peace when she had spoken to her so vehemently.
"Lissenen ar' maska'lalaith tenna' lye omentuva" Sweet water and light laughter till next we meet. Galadriel replied to her.
With that Isilme turned and the darkness beyond the Lorien orbs of light absorbed her and she was no more within the lady's sight.
