~AUTHOR'S NOTE~ There are two lines in this chapter that I did not write myself: "Eight there are here, yet nine there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him." and "He has fallen into shadow." These are direct quotes from the movie; thus proving that is fic is on the movieverse. They were written by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh and I am simply borrowing them. But everything else is mine.

~DISCLAIMER~ Nope, still don't own anyone except Rae, Emeriel, Calíme, Shamiel, and Colindor. I don't think I ever will.

When we arrived back in Lórien, I headed towards a different mallorn-tree than that in which I lived. I knew the group had most likely been taken to the Lord and Lady's Royal Chamber and I had to see them.

"Rae? Um, where are you going?"

"Royal Chamber."

"What?!"

The urge to run overcame me and I sprinted up the stairs in the tree next to that which held the chamber. Emeriel ran close behind me, attempting to stop me.

"Rae? Rae! Raélowen, come back here!" she called after me, giving up the chase. "You're not allowed there!"

I ignored her. I finally reached a height near enough to the royal chamber where I wouldn't be seen but would still be close. I was high enough already that smaller climbing branches were plentiful. I gazed up in the tree and, spotting what looked to be a good perch, started climbing.

They were brought in just as I reached my good lookout branch. There were eight that I could count, three of human height and five much shorter. Hobbits, I think four of them were called, for I remembered an old legend of a hobbit traveling with dwarfs through the elven land of Mirkwood. The last short one was certainly a dwarf.

The humans intrigued me, naturally. I hardly ever got a chance to hear about humans, much less see them. But they were my own kind and I was curious.

Only three were of human or elven height. Two of them were visible, both dark haired men carrying swords. Their hair was shorter than an elf's hair, and darker. I picked up a strand of my own hair, holding it so I could see it. It was the same dark shade as theirs. So Shamiel was right: dark hair is a human trait.

But other than hair color and obviously rounded ears, the humans didn't look al that different from Elves. This thought seemed comforting and I smiled in spite of myself.

I wasn't sure why I still felt so strongly about the strangers, for I felt that it had nothing to do with the humans. I had to strain my ears to hear, being without the heightened elven senses, but I heard Lord Celeborn address them.

"Eight there are here," he began. "Yet nine there were set out from Rivendell."

Rivendell. The name struck a note of familiarity with me. I remembered hearing the story of Lady Galadriel's daughter Celebrían leaving Lórien to marry Elrond of Rivendell. It must be another elven village. I made a note to ask Calíme about it.

"Tell me," he continued, "where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him."

Even with my limited human perception, I could sense a wave of sorrow go through the group. Lady Galadriel felt it too, for she said sadly, "He has fallen into shadow."

The group seemed downcast and nervous. I had no idea what they should be doing traveling through Lórien and I certainly did not understand why humans would be traveling with hobbits or dwarfs.

"Be glad for the blending of races, child." I heard Lady Galadriel's voice in my head. It startled me, though I should have known she'd know I was there. Her voice continued, "You may benefit from their being here."

This last remark confused me and I remained at my perch until the meeting was over, trying to figure out what she meant. I eventually became bored, staying only because of that same strong feeling of connection I had to the group.

The meeting finally seemed to be over. I started looking for a way down (for climbing up was my strong point) when I felt a gaze on me. I looked back to the chamber.

My eyes locked with the gaze of a handsome elven man who I had not been able to see before. I couldn't breathe as my heart sped up and I almost fell out of the tree.

He was the elf shown to me in the Mirror.