~AUTHOR'S NOTE~ This fic is based on the film version of the Fellowship of the Ring and also assumes that the Fellowship only spends one night in Lórien. I know in the book they spend a longer time there, but it is unclear in the movie as to how long they are there.

~DISCLAIMER~ I still own Rae, Calíme, and Emeriel. Tolkien still owns everyone else.

Dawn had already begun to light the eastern horizon when I awoke. Yawning, I sat up, brushed my long hair from my eyes, and gazed at the sunrise visible through the open doorway to my balcony.

The wooden talan on which my house rested was cool as I stepped out of bed and blinked as I attempted to wake myself up. Sunlight gradually filled my room as the morning grew. Gathering the things I would need for the day, I put a robe over my nightdress and left my house.

All of Lórien was stirring as the sunlight filtered through the mallorn branches. Though it was winter and no golden leaves remained on the branches, the light glinted off those leaves resting on the forest floor.

"Rae!"

I heard the call and turned to see Calíme heading down the stairway behind me. Her dwelling was built in the same mallorn-tree as mine, only higher. "Morning, Cali!" I waited as she caught up to me.

"Morning! What are you doing later?" she asked me.

I just shrugged. "I'm not sure. Emeriel said something about going walking or something. Why?"

"Eh, no reason. I've just finished writing that song I was working on and am a touch bored."

"Ah, I see," I replied. Calíme hoped to one day become something of a minstrel for Lórien. Most elven cities or houses had one, but we in Lórien did not. Cali had been writing songs for as long as I had known her and was showing a lot of talent for it.

"Find me later and you can hear the song!" Calíme said.

"Who is this one about?" Most Elvish songs retold legends.

"Tis about Celebrían, daughter of Galadriel, and her departure from Lórien."

I only nodded. Celebrían was but a legend to me, as she had left Middle earth long before I was born. "I'd like to hear it, but later. Now I am on my way to bathe and dress."

Calíme nodded. "Go wash. I'll see you later, Rae!"

"Bye Cali!" I called after her as she continued lightly down the stars. She smiled and waved good-bye.

The bathing house was not far away. It was a simple building on the ground a ways from the city. I walked in and was met with a wall of steam. Somehow, the Elves managed to keep the water and building heated. There were ten walled off pools of warm water for bathing and, it being early, only four were being used, so I slipped into the fifth.

After bathing and washing my hair, I used a large, soft piece of cloth to dry off and shook the excess water out of my hair. The gown I had chosen for the day was made of a pale blue material that was as light as it was comfortable. It was one of my favorite gowns, for it was comfortable and not restricting and it complimented my dark complexion.

I left the warm building to bring my things back to my room and to allow my hair to dry in the morning air. The sun was out and the sky was clear. It looked to be a beautiful day in Lórien. I walked slowly back through the trees towards my home, enjoying the morning.

Several Elves greeted me, as is customary in elven culture. Though I am not necessarily close to any save Calíme and Emeriel, I do know most of the Elves living in Lórien by name.

Sometimes living with so many but being close to so few can be depressing. Not even Calíme and Emeriel understand the loneliness that comes from being the only one of my kind. But on mornings like this, I couldn't feel anything but joy.

"Rae!"

Again I turned at the call of my name—second of the morning. Although it was Emeriel this time calling me. I waved as she ran up to where I was standing.

"Good morning, Rae!" she said as she reached my side.

"G' morning Em. How are you this morning?"

"I'm wonderful! How could anyone be anything else on a morning such as this?"

"'Twould be hard," I admitted with a smile. "Where are you headed?"

"To eat! 'Tis time for our breakfast feast, Rae!"

I had completely forgotten. The Elves of Lórien had a breakfast feast (that usually ran well into lunch) to celebrate things such as births or betrothals. Today, we were to celebrate the betrothal of a maiden of Lórien to a warrior elf from Mirkwood.

"Let me bring my things back to my house, then I'll go with you."

"I'll come with you," Emeriel offered. I nodded, and we headed for the stairs to quickly drop off my things and pray we weren't late for the feast!