~DISCLAIMER~ Ok. Here's the list. Regular characters I own: Rae, Emeriel, Calíme, Shamiel, and now Colindor. As it will always be, J.R.R. Tolkien owns everyone else.
Walking through Lórien in the sun began to cheer me up again. Emeriel and I chatted idly as we wandered through the city towards the outer paths.
I knew why Emeriel wanted to visit the guards. One of the Elves assigned to guard the western edge of the city was Colindor, who Emeriel had "relations" with. She "entreated" me to some of the details of their relationship and seeing the two actually together tended to be annoying. It also reminded me of her happiness with him—a happiness I had not yet found.
"So how are you and Colindor?" I asked Emeriel as we walked.
"We're great! He's everything I could want."
"That's good."
Emeriel stopped for a minute. "Do you mind going to visit the guards?" she asked me in all seriousness.
"No, I don't," I said, silently adding, 'what I mind is seeing how happy you are with Colindor!' But I didn't say it. I knew that Em didn't do it on purpose. So I just said, "I like visiting Haldir and the other western guards. After all, they are the ones who rescued me so long ago and brought me here."
"I know. Come on!" Emeriel said smiling. "Let's go!" She took off in a light jog. I quickly tied my hair back and ran after her.
**********
Did I mention that Elves are a lot faster than humans? They are. I was painfully aware of it as I jogged, trying to keep up with Emeriel. She turned to wait for me and I was glad to see that she didn't look annoyed.
As I ran through the village, my eye was drawn to a small dip in the land. It was a hollow in a root of one of the giant mallorn-trees. Nestled in that hollow were a small waterfall and a great stone pedestal that held a normal looking water basin. The Mirror of Galadriel. I stopped for a moment, overcome by memories.
It was five years ago. I had been with Elves for fifteen years at the time and had come to know the village and its inhabitants well. Our local "legend" and source of endless stories was the Mirror of Lady Galadriel. Because the Lady bore Nenya (one of the Elven Rings of power), she was able to use her mirror as a window through space or time or both. Those who are in need of guidance on their path could look into the Mirror (if the Lady permitted) and see their destiny in the water.
I was shocked (to say the least) as my adoptive mother brought me down to the Mirror in the middle of one night.
"Come my child," Lady Galadriel had said. "It is your time."
I was scared as I stepped up to the stone basin. And at first, I saw nothing.
Slowly, the water started to ripple. An image began to appear, fuzzy and wavery at first.
I stood transfixed as it was finally clear and a handsome man gazed back at me. I could barely breathe.
"Who is he?" I whispered.
"He is your destiny."
"He is perfect, my Lady." He truly was. I could not bear to take my eyes away. It did not seem possible that he could be my destiny, yet I knew that the Lady did not lie.
Gradually, the man began to turn away. It was then that my heart caught. "No…Lady, he is an elf!" I choked. His pointed ears made it perfectly clear. I felt foolish not to have noticed it sooner. He was an elf and I was human and there could never be anything between us. I knew that while humans were intriguing, no elf would ever love one. It could hardly be fair to have shown me such a perfect man that I could never have. "He is an elf," I repeated, abandoning all hope.
"So it appears child." I looked at Galadriel, confused. The image disappeared. She smiled kindly. "Do not be disheartened. He is your destiny. And everything will fall into place."
I sighed sadly. "My Lady, I still do not understand."
"I know little one. But you will."
Those were her last words to me that night. It seems so long ago, and I have not looked in the Mirror since.
But the image of that elven man has never left my mind. To this very day, I can see his face as clearly as I first did in the water.
"Raélowen!"
I blinked and the memories dissipated. Emeriel had her hands on her hips, waiting for me with an "I'm-getting-bored" look on her face. I just smiled at my memories and ran up to where she was waiting.
