He, too, was about to return to the healers when he saw the pile of sand for the second time. Feeling as if it was calling to him, Hedregon swept the grains into his pocket and swore to himself to make it into something special for Rathien.

"Please do not stray off again," said an Elf Hedregon had never seen before as she stepped into his path, "Your inner wounds are not yet healed; come with me."

Hedregon followed silently back to where he had woken up, this time able to climb the ladder without much pain.

"Lie down," the Elf told him. He did so upon a bed of giant golden leaves, and watched the Elf. She crushed up a small handful of stones (to the amazement of Hedregon) with a pistol and mortar, and stirred them into a glass of pinkish water. She also cupped her hands around the thin air, and placed it in a bowl, stirring in bay leaves and bark until it had become a soft, powdery mixture. Placing the bowl, the cup and a few choice pieces of tree bark upon a silver tray, the Elf returned to Hedregon.

"Be certain to drink every drop," she cautioned Hedregon, handing him the pink water with ground-up rocks in it. Not questioning her orders considering he was already on thin ice for wandering off, Hedregon swallowed the cold, stinging water in one gulp.

"Does this make me fall asleep?" he asked, and the Elf laughed.

"It is for your jaw, hand, legs, arm, nose and head; everywhere you have broken bones," she explained, "It will help to speed the healing."

She then went on to work solely on Hedregon's head, the dent Sircyn had made with his metal boot. She placed the bark pieces on the scar, and blew upon that the powdery air-mixture. Of course Hedregon could not see what was happening, but by the time the Elf was finished, the searing pain in his head was greatly reduced and she allowed him to stand up.

"I suggest you keep your distance from Lisiael," the Elf said abruptly.

Hedregon started, "I beg your pardon?"

"She is untamed. The Lady keeps her in line but only by force; for her own sake you should leave her be, out of pity if nothing else." The Elf looked sad, almost as if Rathien was the great tragedy of Lothlórien. "Please, have decency; don't break Lisiael's heart."

"But I -" Hedregon began, but the Elf put her hand up and turned her head away.

"It is likely you will hurt yourself also by getting involved with her. Apart from that, my duty is completed. You are free to leave Lórien."

She left up another ladder, but Hedregon was now horrified. 'Leave Lórien!' he thought, 'How could I now that I have seen what my heart desires most?'

Knowing what he must do, Hedregon picked up his bag and went to find the Queen of Lórien. She was not where various Elves had said she could be found, however. Instead there was an Elf of similar composure, who addressed Hedregon by name,

"Hedregon son of Denethor, welcome," he said, "I am Celeborn, Lord of Lórien and extremely gracious to have in my presence one whom Galadriel finds so worthy of our daughter's time. You have come to ask me if you might stay here for some time although you are already healed, and I grant you that. Please, allow Haldir to find you someplace to stay temporarily."

And with that he exited, leaving a very grumpy Elf with Hedregon. Haldir took him not far away, and showed him a triangular doorway in the trunk of one of the trees, explaining that Hedregon would stay there because mortals did not like heights.

"Now it is near daybreak," he said, "but I will send for someone to wake you in time for supper. Celeborn insists that you eat at his table." Haldir left, and finally Hedregon was all alone.

He took Haldir's advice of sleep, and dreamt a strange dream indeed. It was of Rathien, and a lot of Elves Hedregon had never seen before. She was in a small room when the door opened and beckoned her forward. Rising from her place on the floor, Hedregon noticed that she was dressed exactly as he had seen her that night, except now instead of an innocent white she wore black. As an Elf pestered her with questions she looked completely lost, with her head in her hand, her eyes shadowed over and not bothering to listen to the buzzing sound that was coming out of the Elf's mouth.