Rathien slept most of the way, happily curled up at the bottom of the canoe, something that Hedregon could not understand since she was an Elf and Elves needed very little actual sleep. All the same, they were blessed with the sun and little current.

At the harbor of Lothlórien, Hedregon and Rathien were greeted by Eilliuyn. Well, actually Hedregon was greeted by Eilliuyn and Rathien was shot a hurt look. She led them through the forest of trees and Elves, looking as if she was trying very hard not to glance back at the two.

Rathien looked terrified. Her eyes scanned the faces of Elves as if she had never met them before, the surroundings as if she was a stranger there. In Hedregon's opinion, she looked like a stranger in Lórien, but he didn't tell her.

"I don't belong here anymore," Lisiael whispered to Hedregon, no longer Rathien.

"This is your home," he whispered back, "You will always belong here."

Lisiael looked away. Eilliuyn glanced over her shoulder at Lisiael, appearing confused that she looked so desolate. Hedregon watched this, and wondered what the relationship was between the two. They obviously knew each other, but Eilliuyn seemed to mirror Lisiael; they were both sad and alone, even though they each held companions. Something used to be there, Hedregon decided, but it has been destroyed by some ulterior force. Hedregon couldn't guess what.

Eilliuyn led the two directly to the Lady Galadriel and stood in the background, watching the scene with open eyes. When Galadriel saw Lisiael, she froze. Celeborn turned to Galadriel, and she looked into his eyes, causing Celeborn to choke, and back into his throne-like chair.

The Lady of Light bowed her head. Lisiael clutched Hedregon's hand. He looked at Galadriel, who had raised her head and walked over to Lisiael. She held her daughter's hand, where the scar signifying her mortality would forever be, and allowed one of her tears to fall upon it.

"Come, children," Galadriel said, and led Hedregon and Lisiael up a winding white staircase. Celeborn remained behind, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably as he sobbed into this hand.

Galadriel knelt down on the floor of a room whose only walls were trees, and invited Lisiael and Hedregon to do the same.

"Mother," Lisiael started, for the first time in a full year speaking to Galadriel.

"Celebrían is dying," Galadriel said softly. Hedregon knew from what he had heard that Celebrían was Lisiael's beloved older sister. She was in the Grey Havens, miles beyond miles away from Lothlórien.

"Dying?" Lisiael choked, much like a small child.

"She cannot sustain herself without Elrond at her side; her love for him is tearing her apart. It is likely that he will not be able to travel to the Grey Havens in time for her to be able to still live."

Lisiael's hand was now crushing that of Hedregon's.

Galadriel pulled a jar with clear liquid sloshing around in it from her robes. "With this elixir," she whispered, "I may lose one of you, but you will never lose each other. Pour it into the soil of your home, not this home, but the true home you both hold through the other one. Pour it into the soil and drink from its pool. The only pact you shall hold shall be between you, for you owe nothing to anyone else."

She handed the jar to Lisiael, with the other hand lifting her chin so that the two could see one another.

"Lisiael," Galadriel said, and embraced her daughter. Lisiael, to Hedregon's surprise and joy, returned the embrace.