A/N: Disclaimer in first chapter applies to all chapters that follow.

Galadriel felt their approach when they were still a day away. She sent several elves out to watch the borders with instructions to bring them to her immediately, for they would be weary and in need of rest, but she had to first speak with Radagast. He had not visited Lòrien for many years, and she had much news to share with him, especially that which had come from the Grey wizard, Gandalf. Radagast was a familiar figure to her, and one she was immensely fond of, but she could not perceive as clearly the nature of his companion, which puzzled her slightly. There was something clouded around her, an uncertainty of identity. But she knew that all would be explained on their arrival and sent orders for things to be prepared in advance of their impending arrival.

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Looking out ahead of them, Galwyn could see the woods of Lòrien growing ever closer, their reaches extending as far as her keen eye could see, covering the horizon. She felt her throat tighten and she coughed nervously. Her nerves were soon eliminated when she beheld the beauty of the forest. The spring was far enough on for blossom to have come to the trees and the woods were alive with colour. She could see many familiar trees, but also many she could not name. She was filled with wonder at the sheer lushness and perfection of the forest, it was filled with light and had none of the shadows of Fangorn, but as she thought of her home, she felt a pang of sadness. But she bit her lip and carried on, following Radagast, urging her horse on to the nearby end of their journey. Finally they reached the edge of the forest and no sooner had they ridden a few metres under the canopy than a figure dropped out of a tree to their left, landing gracefully on his feet. Galwyn gasped in both surprise and wonder. It was an elf! He stood tall, and fair, with long, silky blond hair and piercing green eyes. Over his back was a quiver of arrows and he held a long bow in his hand. His gaze passed briefly over her before he turned to Radagast and spoke something in a tongue she did not understand.

"Creoso mellonaminea, amin naa Llambrin en'Lòrien. I'Arwen tulte llie. Lye anta asc. Amin nauva llie cora, khila amin." Welcome my friends, I am Llambrin of Lòrien. The Lady has sent for you. We need to make haste. I will be your guide, follow me.

"Mae govannen. Lye khiluva lle." Well met. We will follow you.   Radagast replied in the same tongue. They walked on in silence for a while, leading the horses, and Galwyn felt distinctly humble beside Llambrin. Suddenly he turned to her and smiled,

"Mani naa esse en lle, nessaer?" What is your name, young one? Galwyn returned his smile, but looked at him quizzically.

"Re n'rangwa. Lle anta magh i'nuumenyaquena." She does not understand. You need to use the Western speech. Llambrin nodded, and repeated his question to Galwyn, lapsing slightly haltingly into the tongue she understood.

"I am Galwyn of Fangorn. Who are you?" she answered haughtily, instantly taking a liking to the elf walking beside her, but disliking the insignificance she felt beside him.

"My name is Llambrin of Lòrien." Galwyn looked the elf straight in the eye and was surprised to see an immense age displayed there, although he looked only around 20 years old.

"How old are you?" She asked shyly. Llambrin looked at her with an amused look in his eyes. He thought for a moment and then asked Radagast something in the tongue he had used before.

"Mani naa minque randa ar ratse mii nuumenyaquena?" What is 1112 years in the Western speech? Radagast replied immediately in the tongue she understood,

"One thousand, one hundred and twelve years old." He laughed at the shocked expression on Galwyn's face before continuing, "Lle naa nessa ten'edhil, uma?" You are young for an elf, yes? He felt a tug on his sleeve and turned to see Galwyn looking at him with an angry expression on her face.

"It's not fair to keep talking in that funny language I don't understand!" Radagast wanted to laugh but decided against it. He smiled gently, before replying,

"Galwyn, you must understand that here in Lòrien they very rarely use anything except their own tongue, and they are not as familiar with it as strangers such as ourselves might hope. So we must communicate in whatever way possible. Later, I will teach you the elven tongues, alright?" Galwyn shrugged sulkily, and Radagast smiled inwardly. She was so much still a child though she tried so hard not to be. The rest of their slow, leisurely journey beneath the trees passed in a happy manner, Galwyn chatted continuously with Llambrin, not really knowing how much or how little he understood, but he appeared to know what she was talking about, occasionally interjecting with a question. When her attention had been caught by a little flower-ringed pool just off their path, Llambrin turned to Radagast.

"Re quena sai, lle tittamellon!" She talks a lot, your little friend! Radagast laughed quietly,

"Uma, re n'uma tamp!" Yes, she does not stop!

"Amin nowa ta naa lisse. Re sinta he dol." I think it is sweet. She knows her mind.

"Lle n'merna coi yassen re, lle n'nowuva ta naa lisse!" You do not want to live with her, you will not think it is sweet! But Llambrin knew that the old wizard was only joking, it was clear he loved the girl dearly as a daughter. Though he was indeed young for an elf, he could as clearly perceive their emotions as if they were visible in the air. He smiled wistfully to himself, looking forward to the day when he would be a father, but then drew himself quickly back to the present moment, he was on an errand that was quickly drawing to a close. They had entered the main body of Lòrien and the trees were becoming larger and even more beautiful. He turned back to Radagast,

"Lle yela re. Lye naa sha eller." Call her. We are almost there. Radagast obliged, calling Galwyn's name loudly until she returned, flushed and happy with a bunch of different coloured wild flowers in her hand.

"I picked them for the Lady!" She said cheerfully. Llambrin looked at Radagast quizzically, until Radagast replied, with a sideways look to Galwyn,

"Re sangane i'lotea ten'i'Arwen." She gathered the flowers for the Lady. Llambrin smiled indulgently at Galwyn, before holding out an arm to bring them to a stop.

"Here I must leave you." Galwyn noticed he spoke the Western speech less hesitantly than he had before. Obviously talking with her had helped. She whispered something in Radagast's ear and listened carefully to his reply, getting him to repeat it several times, before turning to Llambrin and saying,

"Amin estela lye omentuva au'rato. Namaarie." I hope we will meet again soon. Farewell. Llambrin looked delighted, although with his elven hearing he had already heard what it was she had asked Radagast, and what he had said in return, but he did not let on, and his pleasure was ever increased when she ran over to him and gave him a tight hug. He bent down and kissed the top of her head gently, and replied

"Namaarie, mellonamin," Farewell, my friend before bowing slightly to Radagast and disappearing into the trees as suddenly as he had first appeared. Galwyn felt the nervousness engulf her once more now the calming effect of the elf's presence had gone. Slid her arm through Radagast's and he gently laid his hand on hers and squeezed it reassuringly. Suddenly, from their right, an elf-maiden approached. Galwyn jumped slightly; she was not used to the silent movement of the elves. She watched as the maiden approached then gasped in wonder, for she had never seen a woman before, and this maiden was possibly the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Her pale brown hair flowed in a thick river down the back of her pure white gown and her bright blue eyes sparkled like stars. Unable to contain herself she found her voice saying,

"Are you the Lady?" To her surprise the maiden laughed, a tinkling melodic sound that sounded like rain falling. When she spoke, her voice had the same calming quality as Llambrin's.

"No, young one. I am one of her hand-maidens. I am here to take you to her now. She apologises, for she knows you must be weary, but there is much she needs to discuss with the wizard, Radagast." She made a small gesture for them to follow her and they did, silently, with Galwyn marvelling at the grace and fluidity of movement, that had been present in Llambrin, but was so much more evident in the way this maiden moved. After a few minutes they drew to a stop at the bottom of an enormous tree. The elf-maiden called up into the tree,

"Ron naa sinome, arwenamin." They are here, my Lady. A few seconds later another voice called down from the tree, and it was the most beautiful sound Galwyn had ever heard, even the simple words sounded like a song.

"Tula sinome. Lye naa desiel." Come here. We are ready. The elf-maiden gestured towards an ornate staircase that led up the tree, spiralling around the trunk, leading up to a large platform, before leaving them. Radagast gently led Galwyn by the hand and together they went up the staircase, with Galwyn going first. When she arrived on the platform, Galwyn herself take a sharp intake of breath and she was pretty sure her mouth was hanging open in shock. She had thought the elf-maiden they had seen before was beautiful, but her beauty was nothing in comparison to the elf-queen that sat before her on an intricately carved throne of pale wood. Her golden hair fell in soft waves around her face which possessed such exquisite beauty that Galwyn was unsure if this being was real or a figment of her imagination. Her features were ageless, the physical appearance was young, but mature, but there was a great wisdom and age visible in her eyes which were the bluest, deepest and wisest Galwyn had ever seen and she felt them boring into her, searching out the furthest reaches of her soul, but she met the Lady's gaze bravely, fixing her own eyes on the blue ones, eliciting a small smile from the Lady. Suddenly she heard the sweet voice inside her head,

"Your soul is true, and you are wise for your years, young one, though you are new to the world and innocent of much that is evil. I see much good in you, but there is much uncertainty. I will try to help you find your identity." Galwyn replied, but instead of hearing her voice out loud, to her surprise she heard it in her head, as she had heard the Lady's voice:

"I know not who my parents were. I hope that you can help me, for my heritage plays heavily on my heart." The Lady smiled at her and the sight brought a smile to her own face. She heard her sweet voice again but this time it was out loud:

"The child is weary with much travel. She will rest now, but I hope that you, Radagast, will stay with me, for there is much I have to tell." She called softly to someone and a few moments later, the elf-maiden appeared on the platform. She gently took Galwyn by the hand and led her back down the staircase and she heard the Lady's voice once more in her mind,

"Rest well, Galwyn. Tomorrow we shall speak. Quel du." Good night. As she reached the bottom of the staircase she realised how tired she was, and she was almost falling asleep on her feet by the time they stopped beneath a tree and she was helped by the elf-maiden up onto the platform. She lay down on the soft bedroll that was laid out and almost immediately fell into a sweet, deep sleep with the sounds of elven voices somewhere in the back of her mind.